64 Nebraskaland • January-February 2026
PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST
Fishing with my father, 1999
Out on Goose Lake with the best fishing buddy
a kid could ask for — my dad, Joe Janousek, of
O'Neill. Every cast in this johnboat was a lesson
and a laugh, whether we were landing bluegill or
battling a northern pike. These are memories I'll
always cherish. Thanks for the fishing bug, Dad!
– Ryan Janousek, O'Neill
Coon hunting in Fairbury, 1979
My uncle, Mike Leonard (left), and my dad, Charles Steele, and his bluetick coonhound, Pat. My
uncle grew up in Fairbury but moved to California around 1960. He used to come back every year in
November to watch his nephews deer hunt in the mornings. At night, he would coon hunt with my
dad. This was a great night hunting as there were many chases and memories made. My dad has
passed away, and my uncle, now in his late 80s, doesn't make it back to Nebraska much, but takes
Nebraskaland Magazine to keep up with all things going on in Nebraska.
– Ken Steele, Holland
Send contributions to: Portraits from the Past, Nebraskaland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Or e-mail to Jeff.Kurrus@Nebraska.gov.
Photos should show people enjoying Nebraska outdoor activities, such as camping, boating, hunting or fishing, and must have been taken before 2000. We will give
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