Roberta Spilinek of McCook, NE died peacefully on November 9, 2020 in Lincoln, NE. She was 84 years old. She was born December 13, 1935 to Robert and Frances (Polanski) Schmidt in Spalding, NE. She lived with her four siblings on a farm until she was the age of six when the family moved to St. Paul, NE. She attended and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1953.
Roberta met Gerald Spilinek at a county fair in 1953. They dated until he proposed to her on Christmas Eve, 1954. She and Gerald were married June 21, 1955 in St. Paul, NE. Together, they had five children: four sons and one daughter.
Roberta, Gerald and their family lived on a farm outside Elba, NE from the time they were married, then moved to Lincoln, NE before 1963 when they moved to McCook, NE. Roberta worked in the engineering lab at TRW production for seven years before her and Gerald bought an A&W drive-in with John and Florence Unger. They co-owned the drive-in for 12 years. Roberta then took on the position of Dietary Manager at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She loved her job and the residents, working there for 17 years before retiring in 1999. After retiring, her and Gerald spent a lot of their time traveling, taking cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean as well as spending time with their grandchildren.
Roberta was one of the sweetest people you would ever meet. She made everyone feel so welcome in her home and was always worried about others’ needs over her own. Anyone that knew Roberta knew she was an amazing cook. She loved to cook and bake and was notorious for asking if everyone had enough to eat. Her infamous potato dumplings were always a cherished family tradition.
Roberta was strong in her Catholic faith and was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in McCook. She loved to read, crochet and sew in her spare time. She made beautiful blankets and towels for all her family and friends. Roberta also enjoyed playing BINGO every Monday night at the Knight’s of Columbus Hall, especially when she won.
Roberta always said her family was what gave her life meaning. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all her heart. She was incredibly involved in their lives and never let a birthday or special event pass without a hand-written card. She was so loved and will be greatly missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Frances Schmidt, siblings, Mike Schmidt, Leonard Schmidt, Angela Arehart, Rosella Arehart, Mary Josephine Schmidt; husband, Gerald Spilinek; daughter, Karen Spilinek; and son, Wayne Spilinek.
Roberta is survived by 3 sons: Gerald Jr. “Jerry” and Cindy Spilinek (Wichita, KS), Anton “Tony” and Bev Spilinek (McCook, NE), Tom Spilinek (Wichita, KS); daughter-in-law Mia Spilinek (Douglas, WY): ten grandchildren: Mary and Corey Kruse (Lincoln, NE), Kayla and Derek Brooks (Omaha, NE), Jonathon Spilinek (Lincoln NE), Sterling Spilinek (Glennallen, AK), Stone Spilinek (Douglas, WY), Saylor Spilinek (Laramie, WY), Kaitlyn and Corey Ash (Ravenna, NE), Abagayle Spilinek (Raleigh, NC), Melisa Spilinek (Lincoln, NE) and Gerald III “Morgan” Spilinek (Wichita, KS) and six great-grandchildren: Carter, Cole and Claire Kruse, Darin Brooks, and Rylee and Emersyn Ash.
Visitation will be at Herman-Jones Funeral Home in McCook, Nebraska on Sunday, November 15 from 2-5 pm. Roberta’s family will be having a private service to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hillcrest Nursing Home in Roberta’s name.