Reuben E. Caha

REUBEN E. CAHA APRIL 6, 1916 - JANUARY 30, 2014 Reuben Edwin Caha was born on April 6, 1916 to Rudolph and Anna (Pallas) Caha of Thurston, NE. In the spring of 1917, the Caha family moved to a farm four miles west and four and one-half miles south of Wahoo where Reuben spent his childhood along with his ten siblings. He attended School District #71, one year at Weston High School, and was graduated from Wahoo High School Class of "35". He later attended a three-month Welding School at the University of Omaha. In 1941, Reuben rented 200 acres from a neighbor, he farmed the land for one year when Uncle Sam said, "we need you." He sold out and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as an Aviation Cadet. In March on 1944, he received his Commission as Ensign and his "Navy Wings of Gold" at Pensacola, Florida, Naval Air Station. He served as an Instrument Flight Instructor at the Naval Air Station at Lake City, Florida, where he flew twin-engine land based bombers. (PV1&2) On March, 23, 1944 Reuben was married to Marie M. Cejka, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Jasa) Cejka of Weston, NE, at the Presbyterian Church at Pensacola, Florida. After his separation from the Naval Reserve, Reuben and Marie moved to Wahoo where they lived with Reuben's widowed aunt, Frances Ruzicka, where daughter Judith Kay was born. Reuben worked at the Wahoo Machine Shop during the winter months; in the summer he did custom baling. In the spring of 1948, they moved to the farm four miles south and two west of Wahoo where he lived most of his life till moving to South Haven Cottages and then to South Haven Living Center in his mid '90's. Reuben spent eight years as a motor grader operator on the roads of Stocking Precinct. He served as school board member at School Dist. #62, past president and board member of Saunders County Farm Bureau, served as director on the Saunders County Soil Conservation Service, and as a board member of the Lower PlatteNorth Natural Resource Dist. He was a member of the Wahoo Lodge #99 Knights of Pythias, a lifetime member of the Saunders County Historical Society and had been a member of its Board of Directors for 21 years. Reuben was a lifetime member of the Czech Presbyterian Church where he served multiple terms as Elder, sang in the adult choir, and was a member and officer in the Mariners Club. He was also a lifetime member of the Arthur Adolphson American Legion Post #232 in Malmo. He was a longtime farmer, woodworker, and a man who could fix anything and everything. He also worked as a substitute mail carrier for more than twenty years. In his early 70's Reuben accepted a position as a full time mail carrier plus still doing all his farming. Reuben enjoyed living at South Haven with his companion, "Pepe", a cockatiel – even though he couldn't see and hear well he listened to talking books, loved to tease the help and very seldom complained about anything. He enjoyed visitors, especially his great grandchildren and could remember "almost" everything. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Don Proett of Wahoo; grandson Andrew (Staci) Proett of Lincoln and their children Griffin and Cody; granddaughter Elizabeth (Jon) Williams of Wahoo and their children Reuben and Eli Sanchez and Alaya Wagner; sister Ruth C. Ward of Austin, TX; and many nieces and nephews. Reuben was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and five sisters, and wife Marie. Reuben was a man of few words, generous with his talents, time and money, and quietly lived his faith in God. He will be sorely missed by those who loved him.