Obituary of Joe Kotalik

Kotalik Joseph

Joseph Kotalik, 52, of Norfolk, NE, passed away Sunday, November 17, 2024, at his home in Norfolk. Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Tuesday November 26 at the Life Point Church in Norfolk, NE with Pastor Marshal Hardy officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial will be at approximately 2:00 pm, Tuesday November 26 at the Yankton Cemetery, Yankton, SD. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

Joe was born on October 8^th, 1972, to Adolph and Marjorie (Belina) Kotalik at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, Nebraska.  The family lived for a short time north of Norfolk until they moved to an acreage in the country between Norfolk and Madison.  Growing up in the country gave Joe a love of the outdoors and animals.  Life at the Kotalik farm was filled with cats, dogs, chickens, goats, wandering peacocks, and especially horses.  Joe and his sister would be seen out on the back roads riding, exploring, and racing on their horses.  His love for horses expanded into also raising foals.

Joe attended Tannehill Country School District #91 for his grade schooling and then attended Madison Jr/Sr High School in Madison.  While in high school, Joe participated in football and played the tuba in the band.  Upon graduating from high school, Joe attended Northeast Community College and got an associate degree in architecture.  While in college, and after graduating, Joe played the tuba in the community band.

Joe had multiple different jobs throughout Norfolk.  One of his first jobs was delivering pizzas.  He met many people and had a wealth of knowledge on all the streets in Norfolk.  If he found out where someone lived just by the name of their street, he would know exactly where that was and possibly have a story to tell about it!

Joe also had a deep love of his family’s Czech heritage.  This love was embedded in his life by his father.  Every summer since being born, he was attending Czech Days in many different northeast Nebraska towns and in Tabor, SD.  His father taught him how to talk and sing in the Czech language and encouraged playing the accordion.  You would always see Joe and his sister carrying an accordion for their father, just in case Adolph found someone they could sing for!

Joe also had a great interest in military history.  He grew up watching every single military movie he could and retained a wealth of knowledge on American war history.  This was true of Western movies, also!

Joe had a love of football, with Nebraska Football being his favorite.  Joe was a very kind and friendly person. Whenever he was out and about and he was able to have a conversation with you, he would genuinely be interested in you!  He knew where so many people were from, who they might be related to, and what heritage they were.  Joe definitely was not afraid to make a new acquaintance wherever he went.  And if he knew you on the regular, he would probably be telling you a joke he just heard!!

When Joe was older, he also had a wonderful church family that cared for him deeply.  Parishioners all had a hand in helping Joe out whenever he needed anything.  They helped him come to really know the Lord and build his knowledge and commitment to his beliefs!

But, of course, the largest thing in Joe’s life was his battle with diabetes.  Joe was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when he was just 9 years old.  He had many, many complications and continually put a hard fight over and over again, until it came to the point where he could not battle anymore.

We are comforted now with the knowledge that the one cure Joe so desperately sought was found when he entered heaven and was enveloped in God’s arms of love.

Joe is survived by one sister, Rose (Kotalik) Sypherd of Litchfield, IL and Rose’s children, A.J. and Amanda Sypherd; three brothers, Michael Groteluschen of Norfolk, NE, Keith Groteluschen of Las Vegas, NV, Doug Davis of Gayville, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Brian Groteluschen, and brother-in-law Mark Sypherd.

We love you, Joe, and will miss you.  Until we meet again.