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Monday, July 11, 2022
VĚSTNÍK
In Memoriam In Memory of Andeline Svoboda
Resolution of Sympathy
Andeline Virginia Svoboda passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Scottsdale, Arizona. She celebrated her 96th birthday on April 19, 2022. A memorial mass was held at St. Patrick Catholic Community Church in Scottsdale on Thursday, June 16 at 10 a.m. She was laid to rest that afternoon at Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery in Phoenix. She was born to Joseph and Annie Beralek in Waco, Andeline Svoboda Texas. Andeline and husband Woodrow started the Betty Ann Label company in Dallas in 1966. The business manufactured beautiful, embossed cards and labels for gift packages, and they sold the products nationwide. Andeline worked as the secretary/treasurer of the company. She and Woodrow worked very hard to make the business successful. They operated the company for 25 years, until they retired and sold the business. Andeline enjoyed traveling to Europe, cruises to Hawaii and Alaska, and to Mexico. She was specifically grateful to attend her three grandchildren’s weddings. Andeline was member of SPJST Lodge 84, Dallas. She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband Woodrow Svoboda. She is survived by daughter Betty Thomas of Pagosa Springs, Colorado; grandchildren Chad Thomas of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Matt Thomas and wife Monica of Centennial, Colorado, and Rebecca Bunning and husband Matt of Thornton, Colorado; and great-grandchildren Austin, Dylan, Hunter, Kasiya, Parker, Jacob, and Clara. —SPJST—
We, the Resolution Committee of Lodge Hvezda Texasu, No. 47, Seaton, express our sincere sympathy to the family of our departed brother, JOE JOHN VRANA, age 84, of Rogers, Texas, who went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at his residence surrounded by his family. Visitation was Friday, June 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple with a roJoe Vrana sary at 7 p.m. Mass was held on Saturday, June 18 at 10 a.m. at St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Granger, followed by burial at Old Calvary Cemetery in Granger. Serving as pallbearers were Remington Lutz, Branden Seidel, Matthew Vrana, Paul Sherek, Patrick Sherek, and Joshua Sherek. Joe was born on March 24, 1938, in Littlefield to Stanley and Wilma Vrana. At the age of 16, his parents moved their family to Granger, where he attended St. Cyril and Methodius School. He went to work for Dude Wright, where he did custom combining. Eventually, he went to work on a ship on the Grand Island in the Louisiana Bay. In 1962, Joe enlisted in the United States Army. Joe was released from his duties in 1964, where he then received an honorable discharge in 1968. Joe started a career at Wilson Art Plastics on August 13, 1964, where he worked for 29 years as a carpenter and ended his career in the maintenance department as a welder. Joe married Betty Sherek of Taylor on October 15, 1966, and moved to Rogers. Joe had two children - Tammy (Vrana) Lutz and Tim Vrana. He also had three grandchildren that he adored tremendously - Remington Lutz, Trinity Lutz, and Aleksee Lutz; and his son-inlaw, David Lutz. One of Joe’s favorite dishes was his son-in-law’s shrimp etouffee.
Joe retired from Wilson Art on April 2, 1993, which allowed him to do what he desired the most - custom hay baling. Joe enjoyed dancing and listening to Czech bands like Joe Patek, Majeks, Vrazels, and the Dujka Brothers. One of his favorite pastimes was deer hunting. He received great pleasure out of mounting his deer heads as trophies. It wasn’t uncommon to see him working on tractors, trying to improve them in any way he could. One of his greatest talents was being able to take a piece of steel and turn it into a masterpiece. Joe would get excited taking his granddaughters for rides on his tractors and was passionate about hunting and fishing with his grandson. Joe never turned down a Wild Turkey drink; however, his favorite beverage was coffee. He never missed an opportunity to be at the coffee shop with his friends. Even when he was no longer able to drive, his wife or friends drove him to have coffee at the City Café. Joe was active in the church. He served as an usher for many years at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Temple and in several different capacities at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Rogers. He was a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 12931. He was instrumental with the foundation and growth of St. Matthew’s - serving the Lord by volunteering countless hours with upkeep, church maintenance, serving on the financial council, usher, and fundraising activities. He was a member of SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Wilma Vrana; brothers Frank Vrana, Stanley Vrana, and Rudy Vrana; sisters Mary Hendrix (his twin sister) and Martha Stefek. He is survived by his wife Betty Vrana of Rogers; daughter Tammy Lutz and husband David of Temple; son Tim Vrana of Rogers; grandchildren Remington Lutz of Carbondale, Illinois, and Trinity and Aleksee Lutz of Temple; brothers Willie Vrana of Taylor and Johnny Vrana of Granger; and sister Marcella Neal of Bastrop. May our departed brother rest in peace. Resolution Committee Ruth Hanusch Joyce Skrabanek —SPJST—
Witness to the Life of Alice Sulak by Jerry Haisler SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton Comments delivered by Jerry Haisler at the funeral service of Alice Sulak on June 25, 2022. Sister Alice was a 52-year member of Lodge 47, Seaton. How do you sum up in a few minutes a long life lived well? How does the Alice Sulak story start? We know she’s a well-known Czech vocalist and musician; in fact one of a few female Czech vocalists in Texas. How did that come to be? In 1923, Alice’s parents, Tom and Tracy, constructed Tom Sefcik Hall with a bar on the first floor and the dance hall upstairs. The hall was their first home with a house built shortly thereafter. This property was a pretty self-contained community: a tavern, a general store, a lumber yard, repair shop, a black smith shop, a barber shop, a baseball field, and of course, the second story hall and dance floor. Sefcik Hall was a “rite of passage” for many . . . that is where you could get your first beer, even if you weren’t quite of age yet! Alice grew up working at the Hall, and in 1970, she took over the operation. Alice’s father played the guitar and her mother played the accordion. So, no surprise that in the 1940s, at about age 11, Alice began playing in her older sister’s band called Adela and the Music Masters. Adela played accordion while Alice first played drums and then picked up tenor saxophone. A very young Julius Dubcak on trumpet and Jerry Adamek on guitar rounded out the band. And by the way, Alice also plays accordion, piano, and keyboard.
