Louis A. Sojka, M.D.

Louis A. Sojka, M.D.

November 29, 1930 – September 6, 2021

The family will receive friends on Friday, September 10th from 5pm to 7pm followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm. at West Center Chapel.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL:  Saturday, September 11^th, 10am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 14330 Eagle Run Drive.  Private Family Burial.  Memorials are suggested to Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey and School,www.mountmichael.org, 22520 Mount Michael Road, Elkhorn, NE 68022..

To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service and Mass, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button on the home page.

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Dr. Louis Andrew Sojka was born at home in Page, Nebraska on November 29, 1930, to Louis and Stefania Sojka, immigrants from Krakow, Poland. Louis was raised on a farm with three older siblings, Julian, Sofia, and Stanley, in Holt County.  He did not speak English until he started elementary school.

On occasion, Lou had to hitchhike from the farm to O’Neill, Nebraska, where he graduated from St. Mary’s Academy.  After discerning a possible vocation to the priesthood, he instead decided to major in Biology at Creighton University and applied to medical school there.  With prerequisites completed, Lou was accepted to Creighton Medical School before receiving an undergraduate degree.  Upon completing medical school, he entered a rotating internship at Los Angeles County Hospital.  Lou’s general surgery residency was completed at Creighton University.  He then earned a Master’s Degree in Surgery.  During his time in Omaha, Nebraska he met his wife of 61 years, Jacqueline Michaelsen, a graduate of St. Elizabeth School of Nursing.  The couple married in a blizzard on February 20, 1960, in Columbus, Nebraska.

Lou and Jackie moved to Tucson, Arizona, where Lou began his surgical practice at the VA Hospital and where their first son, Matthew, was born.  They realized their desire to grow their family back home and returned to Nebraska.  Lou accepted an opportunity to begin a private practice in Columbus near Jackie’s family.  They welcomed the blessings of their remaining seven children over the next eight years.

Lou had a love of the Catholic faith, family, and education, and he treasured his 30 years in medicine serving the Columbus community.  Following his retirement in 1989, Lou and Jackie moved to Elkhorn, Nebraska, to be nearer to children and grandchildren.

Lou is preceded in death by parents and siblings; son-in-law, Dr. David Grinbergs. He is survived by Jackie and their 8 children: Matthew and his children Stephanie, Nicole, Michael;  Mark (Marcy) and children, Benjamin, Daniel, Christopher, Hannah, and Fr. Louis “Luke” of Mount Michael Abbey;  Anne Stanco (Vince) and children, Maria Grazia, Alessandro, Gian Luca, Antonio; John (Whitney) and children, Thomas, Jude, Maeve, Xavier;  Joan Grinbergs and children,  Rachel, Sara, Drew;  Mary Sydzyik (Troy) and children Joel, Will, Gabriel, Adam; Sara Smith (Paul) and children, Megan, Sean, Brian.

VISITATION: Friday, September 10th, at the West Center Chapel, 5-7 pm, followed by Wake Service at 7 pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Saturday, September 11th, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 10 am. Private Interment in Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials to Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey and School, www.mountmichael.org, 22520 Mount Michael Road, Elkhorn, NE 68022.

To view the Wake Service and Mass online, go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button on the home page.