Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

St. John Nepomucene Parish in Weston will hold a bazaar on September 15, featuring a dinner with pan-fried chicken served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or while supplies last.

Rick Virgil, a key figure in the annual event at Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo, passed away unexpectedly in December 2023. Known for his meticulous approach to cooking the chicken, Rick's absence will be deeply felt this year.

Teresa Virgil, Rick's wife, recalled how her husband’s passion for meat cutting and cooking made him an essential part of the bazaar for over three decades. “He loved to cook meat; he was really good at it,” she said.

Charlie Pleskac and his wife Rita have been leading the bazaar for five years. Pleskac emphasized Rick's dedication: “When Rick was there for that crew, cooking the chicken... Everything was going to be done on time and perfectly.”

Rick kept detailed notes since 1990 about each tray of chicken he cooked. Teresa explained how these notes ensured consistency: “He wrote down every tray that went into the convection oven... so he knew exactly how long it had baked.”

Pleskac aims to maintain this tradition despite Rick’s absence by closely following his documented process and adding more volunteers to cover the work Rick did alone.

The menu includes pan-fried chicken, ham, dumplings, sauerkraut, corn, potatoes, gravy, a kolach roll, and dessert. The meal is served buffet-style for $20 per plate with a drive-through option available.

To accommodate more attendees this year, volunteers plan to prepare additional food. Last year saw hundreds lining up before service began; this year they hope no one leaves hungry.

Beyond food, the bazaar features entertainment including a polka band, children's games, a beer garden, bingo, a raffle and bake stand.

Reflecting on Rick's impact and legacy at St. John Nepomucene Parish’s largest fundraiser event of the year – which supports its school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students – Pleskac said: "It feels like a void is still there... it's probably going to feel like that for a few years."