ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
Volume 109 Number 8
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
★ Brotherhood
April 26, 2021
ISSN —07458 800
SPJST Mourns Loss of Honorary Supreme Lodge Financial Secretary Jerry Mikulas SPJST Honorary Supreme Lodge Financial Secretary Jerry Mikulas, Jr. of Temple, Texas, passed away on Thursday, April 15, 2021. He was 80. Brother Mikulas began his career at the SPJST Home Office in 1960. He was elected to the position of SPJST Supreme Lodge Financial Secretary at the 1976 Convention. He served until his retirement in 2010 after more than 50 years of employment with SPJST. He was a lifelong member of Lodge 47, Seaton. Jerry Jerome Mikulas, Jr. was born July 24, 1940, to Jerry Mikulas, Sr. and Lillie Clara Hejl Mikulas in the rural farming Czech community of Seaton where Jerry, Jr. still maintained a farm. Jerry was the first born son and second child in a family of six children.
At the young age of five years old, it was discovered that Jerry had contracted polio. He spent much of the next few years at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas in quarantine and having multiple surgeries on his leg. There is no doubt this was an incredibly tough time on Jerry, his parents, and sisters. Jerry was forever grateful to his mother and father for faithfully taking him back and forth from Seaton to Dallas which was more than 150 miles.
SPECIAL DELIVERY
q
q
Through all of this, Jerry made a decision at a very young age to not let this disability hold him back. He worked the fields with his sisters and did absolutely everything he could to help the family. Jerry went on to graduate from Rogers High School then Temple Junior College with an Associate of Arts degree. Jerry was eligible for disability pay through the government, but he adamantly chose to decline this and worked
songs and sweets
Lodge 17, New Tabor Youth Club members Carson Parker, left, and Macy Narro deliver treat bags and homemade valentine cards to Caldwell nursing home residents. More on page 36.
9
harder to earn his way through life. Jerry secured a job at SPJST in Temple at 18 years of age and worked loyally there for 50-plus years until his retirement at age 70. He was incredibly proud of his job at SPJST and the people he worked with. In 1962, Jerry met the love of his life, Betty Lorenz, at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. They immediately fell in love, were married in 1964, and started a family. Jerry never let his disability get in the way. As great fathers are, he was always there for his kids. He taught his children to remain humble, practice high ethics, and to respect everyone. Jerry led by example in teaching, coaching, and his pride in attention to detail. He attended every halftime show for his daughter Continued on Page 3.
A Royal Sight
Lodge 25, Ennis youth members June and Luke Holland enjoy Easter goodies after learning to sing Krasna America at their youth leader/grandmother Rita Holland’s house on Easter morning. More on page 38.
9
District Seven is proud of 2020-2021 Queen Madeline O’Gorman, right, and Duchess Sydney Haag, both of Lodge 185, New Braunfels. They were the second runners-up in the SPJST State Royalty competition in 2020. Congratulations! More on page 35.
( ( ( ( ( Inside This Week’s Věstník ( ( ( ( ( Important Dates ...................................3 Readers Write .....................................3 Interest Rates ......................................3 Help Us Find These Members ............4 Lodge Section....................................27 In Memoriam ......................................33
Vestnik Project ..................................34 Youth Section ....................................35 Youth Report/Merit Points ................39 Czech Culture ....................................42 Advertisements .................................45 Lodge Calendar .................................46
Czech Heritage Museum to present show on May 11 Page 27
May Vestnik Project features District Six Youth Counselor Page 34
Lodge 81 Needville Youth Club hosts SPJST Float in parade Page 38
