He grew up in Summerfield, KS on the family farm where he helped raise hogs and cattle, and plant and harvest the crops. Even at a young age, it was evident that Adam had a love for learning how things worked. He was forever taking things apart and putting them back together, building things, improving on what others thought to be adequate.
He attended high school at Axtell High School in Axtell, KS where he played football and basketball and graduated in 1999. After graduation, Adam attended Southeast Community College in Milford, NE for the Diesel Mechanics program and went on to attend Manhattan Area Technical College for Auto Body Repair. After that, he broadened his knowledge of Auto Body Repair in Colorado where he learned Paintless Dent Repair. Leaning into his roots, he built pivot bridges for area farmers, and became a long-term substitute mail carrier for the city of Axtell, KS.
While he was doing all this, Adam began working for Diamond Sawing & Coring in Diller, NE. After working for the company for a short while, he purchased the business and went on his own. Adam started his business with a pickup, trailer, a couple of saws, and some tools and built it into the company that Diamond Concrete Cutting is today. It was while working for Diamond Sawing & Coring that he met his wife Kristin Wolken of Diller, NE. Adam moved to Lincoln, NE to be close to Kristin and began running his business there.
On October 16, 2010, Adam and Kristin were married in Pioneer’s Park in Lincoln. They were blessed with three children, Addison (8), Khloe (5), and Henry (1).
Adam was well known in Lincoln and the surrounding areas for his ability to handle all facets of the concrete and construction business as well as any other business opportunity that was presented to him. Adam was able to visualize a project and how it would be completed before it was even started. If anyone had a question about how or if a project would work, Adam was the one to call. Even if it wasn’t concrete related, he was never afraid to tackle any project. Once you met him you knew you could rely on him to get the job done and he wouldn’t let you down. His most recent project was taking the mosaic mural off of the Pershing Center.
In recent years Adam took flying lessons and learned to become a pilot of small aircraft. Flying was not only a means of transportation for Adam, it was something that brought him great joy and peace. He was in his element when he was in the air. He loved being able to take his family on vacations in the plane and having the ability to see family that lived farther away.
Adam’s social butterfly personality enabled him to touch so many lives. He had a work ethic that never stopped, but above all, his deep love for his family and his desire to help others in need are what shaped Adam into the strong and steady man that he was.
Adam is survived by his Wife and Children, Parents, sister Elizabeth (Ryan) Kostal of Summerfield, KS and sister Naomi (Justin) Koch of Axtell, KS; Grandmother Ethelene (Miller) Helmerichs of Summerfield, KS; Parents-in-law Doyle and Marlene Wolken of Diller, NE; Sister-in-law Cheryl (John) Denner of Diller, NE; Brother-in-law Mark (Candace) Wolken of Mendenhall, MS, Brother-in-law Tyler Wolken of Diller NE, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins as well as many close friends that he considered family. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Clement and Audrey (Scott) Stueve and Henry Helmerichs.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 18th at Roper & Sons South Chapel from 5-7 pm and the Funeral will be held on Saturday, November 19th at St. Marks United Methodist Church in Lincoln at 10:30am.
Please share your favorite memories and pictures of Adam for his children and Kristen to cherish for years to come. These memories and pictures will be made into a book for them. Please send these memories and pictures to MemoriesWithAdam@gmail.com
Memorials will be designated by the family at a later time.