Valerian "Val" Makovicka was born on October 30, 1939, near Ulysses, Nebraska to Joseph F. and Ann B. (Kobza) Makovicka and passed away on May 20, 2024 in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 84 years, 6 months and 20 days.

Val grew up on the family farm near Ulysses, where he attended and graduated from Dwight Assumption Catholic School with the Class of 1958. He attended Creighton University and finished his education at Radio Engineering School. On July 2, 1960, Val was united in marriage to Janice Pavel at Assumption Catholic Church in Dwight; and to this union, seven children were born. He worked numerous jobs until he enlisted into the United States Army on February 4, 1961; and at that time, took basic training with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, KS.  Val was then assigned to the U.S. signal training school at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he trained as a radio teletype operator.  He was then assigned to S-4 Intelligence as a radio teletype operator for Headquarters & Headquarters Company Combat Command C, 2nd Armored Division at Ft. Hood, TX.   The 2nd Armored division was then reactivated from a training division to a STRAC Division for rapid Global deployment. Val was then assigned to Company C Trp. Command USASCS U.S. Army Signal School at Ft. Monmouth in New Jersey, and was trained in teletype and general crypto equipment repair and then transferred to Company L Trp. Command, Department of Special Training as instructor in teletype repair.  He was then assigned to USAR CONTROL GROUP SVI U.S. Army Corp., Omaha, NE, to standby reserve.  Val was honorably discharged on February 4, 1964. The couple returned to the Dwight area, where he farmed and worked at Goodyear for several years. Val continued farming and worked at Hughes Brothers, Inc. In the mid 1980's, he began a part-time job as a rural mail carrier, which transitioned into a full-time position until his retirement in 2007. Val retired from farming in 2012, when the couple moved to Seward.

Val was a lifelong member of the Catholic faith, where he attended Assumption Catholic Church, Dwight, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ulysses, and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Seward. He was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, 25-year member of the Ulysses Fire Department, 50-year member of the Dwight American Legion Post #110, and served on the Dwight Assumption Catholic Cemetery Board. He was very devoted to his daily prayer book and his Catholic faith.

Val was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janice in 2023; son, Michael; two granddaughters, Melissa Helman and Brianna Makovicka; two sisters and brothers-in-law, JoAnn and Jim Tesina, Marlene and Gene Debus; brother-in-law, Jerome Pavel.

Survivors cherishing his memory include his children and spouses, Kevin (Melody) Makovicka of Omaha, NE, Alan (Laura) Makovicka of Ceresco, NE, Annette (Tim) Helman of Lincoln, NE, Nancy (Pat) Bruner of Gretna, NE, Lisa (Mike) Dey of Gresham, NE, Mark (Krista) Makovicka of Dwight, NE; 16 grandchildren: Chad Schaefer, Brandi Turek, Krystal Schaefer, Jarrod Makovicka, Cassi Deerson, Caitlin Jurgensmeier, Michael Helman, Evan Helman, Mackenzie Walter, Jake Bruner, Lance Bruner, Grant Bruner, Molly Dey, Trevor Dey, Alex Makovicka and Nolan Makovicka; 11 great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, John (Connie) Makovicka, sister and brother-in-law, Judy (Kevin) McGrath; brother-in-law, Francis (Joan) Pavel;  nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.