Frank J. "Bud" Barta Jr.

October 22, 1931 - October 18, 2020

NORFOLK --Funeral service for Frank J. "Bud" Barta Jr., 88, of Norfolk formerly of Howells will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2020 at St. John's Catholic Church in Howells, officiating the service will be Father Stanley Schmit and Father Owen Korte. Interment will take place at St. John's Catholic Cemetery, rural Howells. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Friday, at Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk with Rosary starting at 7:00 p.m. Masks and social distancing are required for the visitation and service, the family understands that because of the pandemic you may choose not to attend. The funeral service will be live-streamed on the Stonacek Funeral Chapel Facebook page. Military rites will be provided by the American Legion Post #155 of Howells and the United States Army Honors Guard. The family requests that memorials be made to the St. John's Cemetery Fund, 323 S. 2nd St., Howells, NE 68641. Bud passed away Sunday, October 18, 2020 at the Heritage of Bel Air Nursing Home in Norfolk. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements. Frank J. "Bud" Barta, Jr. was born October 22, 1931 in Stanton County north of Howells, NE to Frank J. Sr. and Anna (Konsel) Barta. He passed away on Oct. 18, 2020 four days before his 89th birthday. Frank was given the nickname “Bud” when he was a young child and the name stayed with him throughout his life. He attended grade school at District 32 in rural Stanton County and graduated from Howells High School in 1949. At age 16 he danced with Rita Malena of Clarkson at the Howells Ballroom and from that first dance they became partners forever. They were united in marriage on February 23, 1952. Bud enlisted in the army and served our country at Fort Bliss, Texas during the Korean conflict from May 1952 to May 1954. Following his honorable discharge, the couple was engaged in farming for 38 years on the very farm place where Frank was born. In 1992, the Bartas retired from farming and moved to Norfolk where Bud worked for Nucor Steel and as a custodian at Sunny Meadow School. Frank served on the Howells Rural Fire and NRD boards, was a member of the American Legion and Knights of Columbus in addition to the St. Henry and St. John Catholic Church choirs. He also served as a lector, EME and trustee for St. John as well as a volunteer at both the Faith Regional Hospital and Veteran’s Home in Norfolk. Bud’s playful teasing endeared him to all who knew him. It was his way of getting others to laugh with him. After moving to The Meadows in 2016, the staff there became like family and he was forever grateful for the fun, the thoughtfulness and the attentive care they gave to him and Rita. Throughout life, Bud enjoyed fishing, going to auctions, traveling with Rita and playing cards with good friends Joe and Mary Molacek, Deryl and Nancy Koopman and Walt and JoAnn Mejstrik. His nephews and nieces have wonderful memories of spending their youth with “Uncle Bud and Aunt Rita” on the family farm north of Howells. In later years, the Barta Family Reunions were always an opportunity to enjoy Uncle Bud’s sense of humor and share a favorite beverage with him. He is survived by wife Rita Barta of Norfolk, sister-in-law Dolores (Cada) Polosky of Des Moines, IA., cousins Joe and Mary Molacek, life-long friends Deryl and Nancy Koopman, sixteen nieces and nephews and multitudes of great and great-great nieces and nephews. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, sister Melvina Dinklage and husband John, brother Richard Barta and wife Wilma, sister Gladys Karel and husband Leonard, sister Audrey Rose and husband Wally, brother-in-law Ronald Scherer and brother-in-law David Malena. Organist will be Wayne Molacek with the St. John's Choir and St. Peter and Paul Choir singing. Pallbearers will be Jim Dinklage, Richard Barta Jr., Greg Barta, Tim Scherer, Kevin Rose, and Dan Karel. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Molacek, Deryl Koopman, Kenneth Petersen, and Ken Dinklage. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.