Volume 103 Number 47
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity ISSN —07458800
★ Brotherhood
Remembering Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941
SPJST Lodge 172, Pasadena member Clifford Richard Jenke was born February 25, 1927, in Houston, Texas. In 1940, at the age of 13, he enlisted with the 48th Marine Battalion, Texas State Guard. Brother Jenke was less than four months into his freshman year of high school on December 7, 1941 - the day that the Imperial Japanese Army bombed Pearl Harbor, prompting the
United States to join World War II. He visited the USS Houston in 1939 when it was docked in Houston. Two years later, it departed Pearl Harbor for Australia the same night as the attacks. Brother Jenke remembered that and wanted to join the war effort so he could protect his country. The only problem . . . his age . . . he was two years short
Continued on Page 13.
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Moulton Members Meet
Lodge 184, Moulton hosted a holiday open house on November 15 at the hall. Members, left to right, Terry Stevenson, Johnnie Hoffman, Patsy Michna, Dennis Baetz, and Elmer Michna, meet and greet attendees at the open house. More pictures on page 12.
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Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates ......................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 From the District..................................4 Lodge Section .....................................4 Christmas Open House Info ..........4,24
Lodge 81, Needville member Bessie Deiss achieves Grand Age of 96
SPJST congratulates Sister Bessie Deiss of Lodge 81, Needville, who celebrated her 96th birthday on November 16, 2015. Sister Deiss receives all SPJST member benefits with no further dues or assessments. Sister Bessie was born to Joseph and Angie Straznicky in Needville, Texas. She had one sister, M a r c e l l a Schwettmann (deceased) and three brothers - Bennie Straznicky (deceased), Henry Straznicky (deceased) and Emil Straznicky. Being from a rural farming area, Bessie and her siblings spent lots of time together. Sometimes when their parents went shopping, they - with the help of older brother Benny - would sneak off to a rural store (within walking distance) to buy tobacco to make corn cobb pipes and smoke. When parents were away with friends, Benny would take the family car, and they would all go for a joy ride - but they would promise not to tell their parents. Bessie walked to school cutting through pastures. She was once bitten by a neighbor’s dog. One of Bessie’s
chores was milking cows which had to be done very early each morning even after some of her late night dances. She also had to help pick cotton. Bessie married Leroy A. Deiss on March 23, 1940, in Richmond. They were blessed with two sons Leroy, Jr. (spouse Alice) of Richmond and Douglas (spouse Helen) of Rosenberg. Bessie was a homemaker. She was very creative and gifted. She always took care of her family and loved baking, sewing, and preparing delicious meals with limited resources. She is wellknown for her tasty kolaches, coffee cakes, and cinnamon rolls. She made baked chicken and cornbread dressing for her family. Some of Bessie’s hobbies were camping, hunting, and fishing with her husband and family. Bessie loved to dance to polka and waltz music. Congratulations again to Bessie Deiss on attaining the Grand Age of 96. Thank you for being a wonderful member of our SPJST for all these years. —SPJST—
SPJST Christmas Open House Monday, December 7 You’re invited! See page 4.
Inside Th is Week’s Vestnik
In Memoriam ......................................13 Youth Section ....................................14 Czech Culture ....................................18 Czech Calendar .................................19 Advertisements ............................20-21 Lodge Calendar .................................22
December 2, 2015
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Lodge 88 Houston member graduates from basic training
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Lodge 160 San Angelo hosts annual meeting
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District Two enjoys trip to Six Flags Over Texas