[1] He attended Creighton University and in 1939 joined Company L, 134th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the Nebraska Army National Guard.
[3] He served in the Pacific Theater with the 32nd Infantry Division, and received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge.
In addition to his World War II awards, Jelinek was a recipient of the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal.
[9] In 1991 Jelinek was named to the Nebraska Army National Guard Regional Training Institute's Hall of Fame.
[14] They were the parents of one daughter and four sons: Cindy; Donald Paul; Joseph Michael; Steven Richard; and David Alan.