ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T
Volume 106 Number 39
Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
★ Brotherhood
October 31, 2018
ISSN —07458800
SPJST Mourns Loss of District Four Director Billy Rollwitz SPJST District Four Director William (Billy) Joseph Rollwitz of Rowena, Texas, passed away Friday, October 19, 2018. He was 80 years of age. Brother Rollwitz was State Field Representative for District Four for five and one-half years from 2001 to 2005. He then succeeded the late Stanley Broz serving on the SPJST Supreme Lodge for the past 13 years as District Four Director since May 2005. He had 18 years of service to the SPJST Home Office. Brother Rollwitz also served on the S.P.J.S.T. Rest Home Board for 25 years, and he held the position of treasurer for many of those years. He was a member of SPJST Lodge 49, Rowena. Billy was born January 24, 1938, to Raymond and Isabella (Moeller) Rollwitz in San Angelo and lived in Rowena all his life. He married his high school sweetheart, Sylvia Franke Rollwitz, on May 10, 1960, in Rowena, and they shared 58 years of marriage. He started working at Middleton Chevrolet during high school where he learned his mechanic skills. He then owned and operated a welding and tractor mechanic shop in Rowena. Billy later went on to farming full time but then returned to what he loved the most and opened a welding shop in Rowena where he built hay buggies and utility trailers. He loved nothing better than going to farm equipment sales and finding all the best deals. Billy organized the Rowena Farm Equipment Sale every spring for the past 30-plus years. Billy served in the United States Army and Reserves. He was a member of Post 8 American Legion in Ballinger
serving as Post Commander, District Zone Commander, District Finance Officer, and District 21 Commander. Billy was instrumental in getting the Runnels County Veterans Memorial Monument erected in Ballinger, which he was very proud of. He was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena. He was also a member of Knights of Columbus. As District Four Director, he represented SPJST in many ways by attending lodge and district functions and meetings throughout the district and state. He participated in many community services, including giving presentations at events. Billy was preceded in death by his parents; infant son Richard; sister Dorothy Capes; brother Curtis Rollwitz; father-in-law Tony and mother-in-law Leona Franke; sisters-in-law Rose Marie Franke and Floy Franke; and
brothers-in-law Leon Franke and Duane Weller. Survivors include his wife Sylvia; daughters Jackie (Jerry) Pospichal of Rowena and Donna (Curtis) Kalina and Connie (Mac) Dodson, both of Miles; son Brennan (Lee Ann) Rollwitz of Rowena; grandchildren Laura Pospichal, Matthew (Britney) Kalina, Jacob (Shelby) Kalina, Clint Dodson, Nathanial (Brittany) Gallion, Anthony (Kim) Rollwitz, Richard Rollwitz, Kaycee Rollwitz, Joseph Pospichal, and Ana Fuentes; step-grandchildren Theresa Pospichal and Jason Pospichal; six great-grandchildren; brother Roy (Sandra) Rollwitz; sister Pauline Rollwitz; sisters-in-law Carolyn Rollwitz and Eileen Weller; brothers-in-law Ross Capes, Wilfred Franke, and Harold (Dolores) Franke; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. A rosary service was at 6 p.m. Monday, October 22 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena. Mass of Christian burial was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 23 at St. Joseph with Father Ariel Lagunilla and Deacon Alan Pelzel celebrating. Burial followed at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandsons Matthew Kalina, Clint Dodson, Anthony Rollwitz, Jacob Kalina, Nathanial Gallion, Richard Rollwitz, and Joseph Pospichal. Honorary pallbearers were SPJST Staff and American Legion representatives. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society or a favorite charity. A special memorial tribute to Billy is included on pages 4 to 6 of this week’s Vestnik. —SPJST—
Czech out the costumes! 2014 SPJST State Queen Denae Bronikowski, center, of Lodge 88, Houston and Zac Coleman and his niece Zoey Coleman, both of Lodge 142, Houston, are pictured at District Five Fall Family Fun Day on Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Lodge 88. The event was combined with the lodge’s CzechFest in the Heights! and the youth club’s Halloween party.
Trunk-or-Treat Mindy Ofczarzak and son Brandon Powell, both of Lodge 17, New Tabor, are ready to hand out candy at the District One Fall Fun Day on Sunday, October 21 at Lodge 17. The event featured a trunk-or-treat for the youth.
N N N N N N N N Inside This Week’s Věstník N N N N N N N N Interest Rates.......................................3 Important Dates ...................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 SPJST Cruise ......................................3 Lodge Section......................................7 Recipe ................................................14
In Memoriam ......................................15 Youth Section.....................................16 Important Youth Dates ......................16 Czech Culture ...................................19 Advertisements .................................21 Lodge Calendar .................................22
Lodge 200 BrucevilleEddy hosts meal for police
Lodge 84 Dallas members shares Czech display Page 11
Page 13
Lodge 29 Taylor Youth Club members play on Elgin, Taylor volleyball teams Page 16