Elouise Soukup

Elouise Mariliss (Hoff) Soukup, 88, of Hastings, NE, passed away Saturday, October 25, 2014.

The service to celebrate Elly's life will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 30, 2014. The Very Rev. Catherine Scott will officiate. Family cordially invites you for a luncheon after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made to The Nebraska State Historical Society, 1500 R St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68508; Kappa Delta Foundation (www.kdfoundation@kappadelta.org), 3205 Players Lane, Memphis, TN 38125; or St. Mark's Episcopal Church 422 N. Burlington, Hastings, NE 68901. Book signing will be Wednesday, October 29, 2014; 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Elly was born October 15, 1926 in Hastings, Nebraska to Gretchen (Guildner) and Robert Hoff. She attended Alcott Elementary and Hastings Jr. High. Her family moved to Glendale, California where she graduated from Hoover High School in 1944. She attended the University of Southern California for three years and was active in Kappa Delta Sorority. Before completing her degree, she married Leo Soukup Jr. March 22, 1948. Elly and Leo were both from drycleaning families, Elly third generation and Leo, second generation. They began their careers in the drycleaning industry. They moved back to Nebraska in the early1950's. After a short residence in Lincoln, Nebraska, they moved to Beatrice and partnered in business to run Leo Soukup Cleaners for over 20 years. After completing her B.A. in History at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln she served as Education Director at the Nebraska State Historical Society. Elly and Leo moved to Hastings, Nebraska in 1978. Before her retirement in 2007, she was owner and partner of Elly's Closets and Hoff Cleaners. She was a member of St Mark's Episcopal Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, Kappa Delta Sorority, University of Nebraska Alumni Association, International Fabricare Institute, and the International Drycleaning Congress. Her many past-times through the years included bridge, golf, fishing, reading, writing, knitting, gardening and travel.

Elly was preceded in death by her parents, sister, and one infant son.

Survivors of the immediate family include:
Husband of 66 years:
Leo Soukup Jr. - Hastings, NE
Son:
Leo 'Bud' (Judy) Soukup III - Hastings, NE
Daughter:
Mariliss 'Su' (Jim) Erickson - Aurora, IL
Grandchildren:
Michelle (Dan) Rehbein - Hastings, NE
Joseph Erickson - Denver, CO
David (Rujun) Erickson - Singapore, Singapore
Great-Granddaughter:
Nicole Rehbein - Lincoln, NE