"Bear" Jerome J. Mendyk

Jerome J. “Bear” Mendyk, 75, of Loup City, died Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, at the VA Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. The Rev. Harry Kurtenbach will officiate. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City, with graveside military honors by American Legion Post No. 48 of Loup City. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church, with a 6 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Mendyk was born on Nov. 8, 1934, at Loup City the son of Joseph and Mary (Synak) Mendyk. He is survived by five sisters, Dorothy Barnett of Waverly, Mickey Rauss of Gainesville, Virg., Janie and Duke Rein of Grand Island, Virgie Neal and Tom Chapman of Lincoln and Margie and Ron Kitchen of Lincoln; two brothers, Max and Ruth Mendyk of Phillips and Mark and Cindi Mendyk of St. Paul; and a sister-in-law, Sylvia Mendyk of Clinton, MO. He is also survived by 28 nieces and nephews. Bear grew up in Loup City where he attended St. Josaphat’s Parochial School and was a 1951 graduate of Loup City High School. Upon completing his education he worked at Ray’s Market in Loup City. He served in the United States Army from July 1957 until his discharge in July 1959. At that time he returned to Loup City and worked at Ray’s Market as a meat cutter until 1987. In 1988, he began working at the Colony Club in Loup City and the Snack Shop Bakery also of Loup City in 2003. He was still working for both businesses at the time of his death. Bear was a member of St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church and the American Legion Post No. 48, both of Loup City. He was an avid NASCAR fan since the 1970’s and enjoyed country music. He also loved the LA Dodgers, Detroit Tigers and Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Jeanne Hickey; three brothers, Richard, Larry and Mike Mendyk; three brothers-in-law, Chet Barnett, Ron Rauss and Joe Neal; and two nieces and one nephew. Memorials are suggested to the Loup City EMT’s.