Kenneth Ray Liska, 80, husband, father, veterinarian, community builder and jokester died Sept. 23, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
A memorial is planned for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 at the First Presbyterian Church in Wayne. A celebration of life will follow at Johnnie Byrd’s, The Coop.
The family requests memorials be made to them for later designation.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
Ken or Kenny was born Nov. 12, 1943 in Niobrara to Alex and Stella (Jerman) Liska. The second of three boys, Kenny ate all his beef and potatoes and grew and grew. At 6’5” Kenny loved farm work, animals, playing the trombone and sports. Kenny played in the Nebraska Shine Bowl Football Game and excelled in basketball, holding a Nebraska men’s basketball high scoring record until 1990. Kenny graduated from high school with a class of 19, including his girlfriend and future wife, Janice Kreycik of Niobrara. He attended Iowa State University as Jan graduated from the University of Nebraska. The two married in 1966 and Ken attended the College of Veterinary Medicine at ISU.
Dr. Ken and Jan Liska moved to Wayne, and along with brother Jay, started Wayne Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Ken practiced veterinary medicine in Nebraska for 32 years. The Wayne community is robust, and he found numerous organizations to help build, give back and belong to the community. Ken was a member and held board positions in Kiwanis, Masons, Wayne School Board, Power Genetics, elder with Wayne Presbyterian Church, Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association, a bank board member with Farmer’s and Merchant’s State Bank and made countless omelets for Chicken Days.
He lived a productive and fulfilling life in northeast Nebraska for 78 years.
Ken’s hobby, along with brother Jay, was raising Angus cattle. The ranching lifestyle was in his blood. Calving, fixing fence, moving hay, spring bull sales, no matter the task, he loved it. His children, along with their cousins, learned a great deal helping on the ranch as well as having volumes of stories from things gone right and things gone wrong in those years. He was also known to brew his own beer and grow tobacco for cigars.
As all of you know, Ken was quite the prankster. He always had a joke to tell, funny quip, or practical joke he was planning. He was a professional, a loving father and husband, a giver to his community, and a friend to all. Ken and Jan had a loving marriage of 58 years. They modeled love, commitment, fun and enjoyed dancing. They moved to Texas in 2022 to be closer to family.
Family members include his wife, Janice of Frisco, Texas; children, Jason (Dana) Liska and their children, Cambell and Mira of Frisco, Texas; daughter-in-law, Eleana Liska and Dr. Eric Liska’s daughters, Stella and Grayce Liska of Helena, Montana; Kim (Chris) Loofe from Kearney and their children Lauren (Florida), Madeline (Michigan) and Charles from Kearney; brother Dr. William Liska (Denise) from Sugarland, Texas and many other nieces, nephews and friends.
Dr. Liska was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Stella Liska; brother, Dr. Jay Liska, sister-in-law, Donna Liska and son, Dr. Eric Liska.
