Jim Ptacnik

Jim Ptacnik, age 78, of Aurora, passed away Thursday, November 27, 2025, at CHI Health St. Francis is Grand Island. 

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, December 2nd at the Aurora First Chrisian Church in Aurora.   Interment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 P.M. Monday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in care of family to be designated at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family through the mortuary website at  www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: JIM PTACNIK 

Vencil (Jim) Ptacnik was born in Ord, Nebraska to Vencil Ptacnik, Sr. and Norma (Jorgensen) Ptacnik on March 17, 1947.   He passed away in Grand Island, Nebraska on November 27, 2025 at the age of 78.   He was baptized on April 6, 1947 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.   

Jim attended St. Mary’s Parochial school in Ord, graduating from the 8  th grade.  He continued his education at Ord High School, graduating with the class of 1965. 

On April 27, 1966 he was drafted into the US Army and proudly served his country at various bases here stateside before he was deployed to Vietnam.   He was honorably discharged on April 26, 1968 and moved back home to Ord. 

Jim spent many summers working with his Uncle Ed and Aunt Eva on their farm.   It was here he gained the work ethic that would follow him the rest of his life.     Employment at York Manufacturing Co. brought him to Aurora where he met and married Linda Dorsey on September 19, 1969.   They made their home briefly in Hampton before moving to Aurora.   

Jim was a true outdoorsman – hunting elk in Colorado – deer and pheasants in Nebraska – fishing in lakes throughout the US - mostly in Striper and Walleye Tournaments with his friends.   He and his fishing partner, Larry Tourner, finished fourth in the nation in one of his tournaments. 

He loved fishing with his wife, Linda, and they would spend many years camping and fishing at Nebraska lakes until they purchased a second home in Glen Elder, Kansas where they spent many weekends, made many friends, and fished Lake Waconda.   Jim was a dedicated fisherman – hitting the water early in the morning and coming in after dark.   His boat, Baby Doll, was with him from 1983 and it is still in the family.   Jim’s brother, Mike, and his family also purchased a home in Glen Elder and enjoyed many weekends there with him. 

He loved the game of golf and enjoyed several trips with his golfing buddies to the southern us as well as Nevada.   Here too – he would hit the links early and sometimes play as many as four rounds of golf a day.   Jim and Linda spent many hours on the course and enjoyed couples golf for many years.   His golf partner and very good friend, Mike Penner, passed away in 2022.  The highlight of his golfing “career” was partnering with his brother, Jack, in the Member/Guest Golf Tournament in Aurora for many years.   One year they won the tournament and continued to play many rounds together until his health would no longer allow him to play. 

One vice he did have – if you would call it a vice – was meeting his “guy” friends each Tuesday afternoon at Michell’s Rec here in Aurora for an afternoon of friendly Texas Hold-Em poker.   This Tuesday event was also known as “Paper Night” when Buck would have the Aurora paper delivered to the pub and they would take a paper home for their wives, probably as a peace offering of sorts. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, God parents Ed & Eva Radil, sister Sandra, nephews Shayne Ptacnik and Shawn & Randy Dorsey, sister-in-law, Helen Couwlier, brothers-in-law, Don Dorsey & Steve Dorsey, Sr. and beloved cousin, Don Nevrkla.   

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Linda of Aurora; brothers, Jack (Val) Ptacnik of Ord and Mike (Patty) Ptacnik of Hastings; step-brothers, Dan (Nancy) Knapp of Colorado and Dennis (Julie) Knapp of Colorado; step-sister, Pauline (Dan) Swanek of Dannebrog; sister-in-laws, Dianne Dorsey of Ogallala, Roberta Dorsey of Aurora, Stephanie (Marty) Auman of Marquette and Barbara (Tom) Harty of San Bernadino, CA; brother-in-laws, Paul Couwlier of Waterford, MI and Mike Dorsey of Aurora, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

Vencil was a wonderful husband to Linda – brother to Mike and Jack – a great Uncle to all his nieces and nephews, and a friend to many.   As we say goodbye, may we find comfort in one another, hope in each new day, and gratitude for the time we were given with someone so dearly loved.