Leo Soukup Jr.

Hastings resident Leo Soukup Jr., 94, passed away peacefully Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village, Hastings, NE.

A private family service will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Tehama Shriners Hospital Transportation Fund.

Leo was born December 28, 1923, in Lincoln, NE. He graduated from Lincoln High and was a delegate to the first Nebraska Boys State. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for two years before entering the U.S. Navy. He served active duty as a Naval pilot during WWII. He spent five years in southern California working in the drycleaning industry, and then two years in Lincoln as a field engineer with Adco before purchasing Miles Cleaners in Beatrice. He and his wife owned and operated Soukup Cleaners from 1955 to 1978. He was a second generation board member of NIE (National Drycleaners Insurer). After moving to the Hastings area in 1978, he assisted in the family businesses of Hoff Cleaners and Elly’s Closets.

Leo was active in Beatrice and volunteered his time in many business and community organizations including the YMCA, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, and the Salvation Army. He was active politically and was elected to a term on the Beatrice City Council. While residing in Beatrice, he was a long-time member of Sesotris Shrine where he rode bronco with the Blue Valley Club Scooter Patrol and in Hastings, a member of Tehama Shrine, Rotary International, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Pro-Cathedral. A wide range of interests and activities contributed to Leo’s way of life. He loved cars, dogs, fishing, planting trees and working outdoors. He and his wife traveled extensively all over the United States and the world and enjoyed sampling food of all types.

Leo was preceded in death by his wife, Elouise M. Hoff Soukup; infant son, Robert; parents, Leo Soukup Sr. and Anna (Hambeck); brother, Robert; and sisters, Marie, Alice and Ann.

SURVIVORS:
Son:
Leo ‘Bud’ (Judy) Soukup III - Hastings, NE
Daughter:
Mariliss ‘Su’ (Jim) Erickson - Aurora, IL
Granddaughter:
Michelle (Dan) Rehbein - Hastings, NE
Grandsons:
Joseph Erickson - Denver, CO
David (Rujun) Erickson - Maplewood, NJ
Great-Granddaughter:
Nicole (Matt) Rogge - Lincoln, NE
Great-Grandson:
Torbjorn Erickson - Maplewood, NJ