Jozef Rzepka

Jozef Rzepka of Omaha, Nebraska passed away comfortably in his home the morning of January 29, 2026 at the age of 79. Jozef was the bright light in any room that he entered, always with a smile on his face and the love to strike up a conversation.

Born on August 12, 1946 in Poland, Jozef was one of 12 children and the oldest son born to Jan and Stanislawe Rzepka. It is here where he met his loving wife of 51 years, Maria (Hynko) Rzepka. In 1983, Jozef left Poland (which was under communist control at the time) and entered a refuge camp in Austria. He had hoped to eventually go to Canada where he had relatives. However, after six months of waiting Canada denied his entry. He then applied to come to the United States and was approved after another two months. He arrived in Washington D.C. where he was given the choice to either go to school or find work. Since he had a family to support, he chose to find work and they found him a sponsor and a job in Omaha.

Jozef was proud of the many jobs he held over the years and was always eager to talk about them. While in Poland, he spent two years in the military followed by another two years working in a coal mine. Then, while waiting in the refuge camp in Austria, he was working in a National Park in the mountains. Once in Omaha, he spent time working at American Hydraulic, Wozniak Painting and Mutual of Omaha before spending the last 30 years working as a self-employed house painter and handyman. He was truly a jack of all trades and could fix, build or create just about anything.

He enjoyed the many cardinals that would visit his backyard, and trained them to fly right up to him with a whistle (giving them fresh walnuts as a treat). Jozef especially enjoyed spending time with his four grandchildren, spending countless hours playing with them and as they got older, teaching them how to play chess, the game he loved.

Jozef is survived by his wife Maria Rzepka, his daughter Ela (Rzepka) Ripp, son-in-law Jon Ripp, grandson Mark Ripp, granddaughters Anna Ripp, Sara Ripp and Mary Ripp, all of Omaha, and brothers Wladyslaw, Kazimierz, Stanislaw, Henry and Mieczyslaw, and sisters Zofia, Anna, Adela and Bronislowa, all of Poland.

He was preceded in death by his father Jan Rzepka, his mother Stanislawe Rzepka, and his sisters Teresa and Helena, all of Poland.

Visitation will be Friday, February 6 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Christ The King Catholic Church in Omaha with a Rosary service to follow.

The Funeral for Jozef will be held on Saturday, February 7 at 10:00 AM at Christ the King Catholic Church in Omaha.