John Frank Jankovich

John was preceded in death by his loving wife Monika E. Jankovich; parents Joseph and Anna Jankovich; grandson Matthew Joseph Jankovich; beloved brothers and sisters Margaret, Ann, Joseph, James, Irene, Rosemary, Elmer, and William. He is survived by his children John T. Jankovich, Jacqueline L. (Bruce) Larson, Jared R. Jankovich, Michael J. Jankovich; grandchildren John Andrew Jankovich, Kelsey Lee (Larson) Cuttitta, Emily Jean Jankovich, Garrett Steven Larson, Nicole Ashley Larson, Jared Timothy Jankovich, Ella Kathleen Jankovich, Zachary Allen Jankovich, Natalie Brianne Jankovich, and Tyler Michael Jankovich. John was born at St. Joseph Hospital in 1934 to Hungarian immigrants from Budapest. The youngest of nine children, John attended grade school at St. Peters and Paul Catholic church. When he was just 9 years old his father passed away and John took up jobs as a caddy at local golf courses to help support his family. It is here where his lifelong passion for golf started. In high school John worked at various packing houses, and a year after graduating from South High School in 1952 John began a forty-year career at Union Pacific Railroad. In 1957 John was drafted into the US Army and was sent to Berlin, Germany where, in his words, he was “captured” by a German in 1959. It was on Valentine’s Day in 1959 when he married the love of his life, Monika, in Berlin. Shortly thereafter the newlyweds moved to Omaha to start their new life. The couple bought their first home on Emiline Street in 1960 and soon started a family. Besides being an avid golfer, John liked to garden, plant fruit trees, and raise chickens. For years he was known as “Farmer John” to students at Pawnee Elementary as he frequently provided the school with an incubator and eggs for the students to observe the birth of spring chickens. During 16 years on Emiline Street John and Monika had four children, and then in 1976 the Jankovich family moved just down the street to their forever home on Harrison Street. It was here where his garden expanded, and he often had enough vegetables for the entire neighborhood. In 1983 John joined the Ashland Country Club where he golfed for over 25 years, and during the 80’s, John was frequently the Union Pacific Friday night golf league champion. In addition to five hole-in-one’s over his career, John was a 4 handicap in his prime. After John retired from the railroad in 1993, he was frequently known to be the first to tee off at Ashland Country Club on weekdays, and always brought his children and grandchildren there on the weekends to swim and eat their buffet. After 70 years of golfing, John eventually put up the golf clubs for good but stayed active at the South Omaha Kroc Center walking in the lazy river. John was a parishioner at St. Bernadette for decades and often ushered for Saturday night mass. Although John was passionate about golfing and gardening, more than anything he loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family. Most knew him as a hard worker who provided well for his family. Those closest tohim knew him as a patient and loving family man who was proud of his family’s accomplishments rooted in his humble South Omaha beginnings.