Margaret Mary (Krejci) Kassik was born June 23, 1936, on the family farm southeast of Exeter, to John and Mattie (Leif) Krejci and passed away June 26, 2026, at Fillmore County Hospital in Geneva. She was one of seven children in the family.
Margaret went to grade school at District 95 country school for a short time then attended St. Stephen Catholic School until the eighth grade. She graduated from Exeter High School with the class of 1954.
Margaret grew up on the family farm east of Exeter, where she helped with many daily chores of milking cows, raising chickens and working in the garden. She always remembered how her mom would bake bread every day for school lunches with only sometimes having lard to put on the bread.
Separating cream, picking up eggs and washing clothes with the wringer washer would be her jobs along with her sister, Elaine.
On May 18, 1957, she married Frank W. Kassik, Jr., from Milligan and to this union, five children were born: Kathy, Paul, Karen, Karla and Perry. They made their home in Milligan. Margaret was a “stay at home” mom helping to raise their family. She would sew all the girls clothes, drive them to school functions, teach after school catechism and lead many “music mothers” meetings.
She was a member of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Milligan, where she served as president, secretary and treasurer of the altar society for many years.
As the family grew up, Margaret would find work by babysitting and then outside the home, she worked for Farmer & Son Funeral Home for 25-plus years. She was also an assistant cook at Milligan Public School.
Margaret enjoyed cooking her famous chicken and rice, duck and dumplings and baking rolls. Her love of making Houska bread was always enjoyed by the family at Christmas time and a homemade angelfood cake was also a favorite to many. A tradition of making Jaternice was passed down to her from Grandma (Emma A. Kassik) and given to her kids to try and keep up with that tradition.
She embroidered T-towels and quilt blocks and put them together for the church quilt raffle during the June Jubilee for many years.
Frank and Margaret would plant a large garden to keep up with their large family and to share with friends. Canning produce was another job added to mom’s many chores.
Her greatest joy was going to watch the kids and grandkid’s school events and sporting events.
We were blessed to celebrate mom’s 90th birthday with her and her family and friends which she enjoyed whole heartedly.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Frank in 2015; parents, John and Mattie Krejci; brothers, Richard and Dave Krejci; and sisters, Elaine Betka and Sylvia Krejci.
She is survived by children, Kathy (Tom) Gillmore, Paul (Jeanie) Kassik, Karen (Dean) Filipi, Karla Kassik and John Volkmer and Perry (Judy) Kassik; grandchildren, Kelly Filipi, Matt (Mindy) Filipi, Hilary (Luther) Roit, Tony (Ashley) Kassik, Jackie Jorden, and Barry Kothe; great-grandchildren, Preston and Kinsley Waller, Addi, Gunnar and Baker Filipi, Benjamin and Klaire Roit, Saydee, Rylee, Adlee Kassik; brothers, Don (Elaine) Krejci, and Linus (Shirley) Krejci; sister-in-law, Barb Krejci; brother-in law, Jim Betka; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. She will be missed by all.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, July 1, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Milligan. Father Corey Harrison presided over the Mass. Tim Trausch was the organist and he accompanied the congregation in the singing of “Here I Am Lord,” “On This Day, O Beautiful Mother,” “Lord, When You Came To The Seashore,” “How Great Thou Art.”
Pallbearers included Matt Filipi, Tony Kassik, Preston Waller, Luther Roit, Mike Krejci, and Brent Kassik. Honorary Pallbearers included Kelly Filipi, Hilary Roit, Mindy Filipi, Ashley Kassik, Kinsley Waller, Addi Filipi, Gunnar Filipi, Baker Filipi, Saydee Filipi, Rylee Kassik, Adlee Kassik, Benjamin Roit, Klaire Roit, Jackie Jorden, and Barry Kothe.
A graveside service will be in the Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan.
Arrangements by Farmer & Son Funeral Home.
