In Memoriam

In Memory of Larry Bertrand

Lawrence “Larry” Edward Bertrand, age 67, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2023, when he lost his oneyear fight with colorectal cancer in San Antonio, Texas.

Visitation was held at Franklin Funeral Home in Floresville on Friday, February 17 at 4 p.m.; rosary followed at 5:30 p.m. A private family interment will be held at a later date.

Larry was born May 12, 1955, to Lawrence and Catherine (Warnken) Bertrand in Beaumont. He was raised in Poth and graduated from Poth High School in 1973 where he played various sports and was in the band. After graduating high school, he attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos and graduated with an industrial arts degree in 1977. While in college, he had an internship at Fredricks Refrigeration. Upon graduation, he started at Chevron Uranium Mines. Then he moved along to the Warnken family business and started at Wilco Peanut Company following in his father’s footsteps in 1978 where he was employed until his passed. Larry started out small on the yard, and after his father’s passing, he moved up to the office.

Larry met the love of his life, Roxanne “Roxy” Bayer, on the back of a jet boat out on Calaveras Lake in the summer of 1982. After seven years of dating, they finally tied the knot in Poth at Blessed Sacrament Church on May 2, 1987.

He had a love for motorcycles, boats, and water skiing. Larry and Roxy loved to get out and go on vacations. They loved to cruise the ocean blue, go to Louisiana for Mardi Gras, and travel to many different places for the Texas Peanut Growers Association Conferences. They were members of the Cajun French Music Association (CFMA) where they participated in many gumbo cookoffs and numerous crawfish boils and festivals.

Larry was a member of SPJST Lodge 107, Floresville, where he held the office of vice president for many years. Larry’s in-laws had a timeshare in Colorado and any time there was an opening, he was ready to go.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Catherine (Warnken) Bertrand; father-in-law Bob Bayer; and sister in-law April Bayer.

Larry is survived by his wife of 35 years, Roxanne “Roxy” Bertrand; mother-in-law Polly Bayer; brothers John and wife Lisa, Wayne and wife Treva, and Stephen and wife Irma; brother-in-law John Bayer and wife Peggy; sister-in-law Wendy Pruski; nieces and nephews Dustin Bertrand and wife Kaleigh, Justin Bertrand and wife Alyssa, Allie Bertrand, Spencer Bertrand, Franchesca Bertrand, Trevor Bertrand, Kevin Bayer, Josh Bayer and wife Donna, Zach Bayer, Hope Bayer, Lian Lynn and husband Robert, and Trevor DeBellotte; great-nieces and greatnephews River and Raine Bertrand, Breelyn and Emberlyn Bertrand, Atlas Bayer, Jack Bayer, and Colt and Tillie Lynn; very close friends Lance Reinhard, Richard and Janie Mutz, David and Judy Davenport, and “Mr. Larry” Kellenberger and the late Flo Kellenberger.

Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.

—SPJST—

In Memory of Julius Dubcak

Julius James Dubcak of Round Rock, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at the age of 83. Visitation was at 10 a.m. Monday, February 20 at Beck Funeral Home in Pflugerville with services starting at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial was at 1:30 p.m. Monday, February 20 at Seaton Cemetery near Temple.

Julius was a first generation Czech, born on a cotton farm in East Bell County. He spoke fluent Czech at home and learned to speak English when he began first grade. He was very proud of his Czech heritage.

Julius graduated from Rogers High School in 1958. He went part-time to Temple Junior College while working at Temple National Bank. After TJC, he enrolled in what was then called Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville. He graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

Julius loved his Sam Houston State Bearcats.

After graduating, he went to work with the State Comptroller’s office in Bryan. He worked there for a couple years then was transferred to the Houston office. That’s where he met the love of his life, Jeannie Rockco. Julius was married to Jeannie on May 6, 1967, in Nelsonville. They were married 55 years.

After retirement, Julius and Jeannie did extensive traveling in the United States, Canada, and Europe. They also went on several cruises.

Julius retired from the State Comptroller’s office on July 31, 2000. He worked in Comptroller Bob Bullock’s administration, and at one time, he was one of “Bob Bullock’s Raiders.” He was proud of that title. Julius was in the enforcement headquarters when he retired.

He took an interest in music at an early age and began playing trumpet with the Music Masters of Seaton with Alice Sulak and her sister. He played with the Vrazels’ Polka Band from 1966 until 1970. Julius was so proud of his association with the Vrazels’ Polka Band. He and Jeannie took a couple trips to the Czech Republic with the band and went on their Italian cruise tour. Julius and Jeannie attended dances at several SPJST halls, and Julius would carry his trumpet and would play with the bands when invited. He also had enjoyed playing with Jerry Haisler and the Melody 5. When Julius and Jeannie lived in Houston, he played with several polka bands and even played on albums with Jimmy Brosh and Julius Tupa. His proudest album song though was when he played with the Vrazels’ on their recording of “If I Were a Bird Polka” where he played harmony on his trumpet.

While in Houston, he became an active member of Sokol. He served as vice president of Sokol West when we moved to Waco. He served on the board of directors of ZCBJ / WFLA (Zapadni Cesko Bratrske Jednota / Western Fraternal Life Association). He served as the longest unopposed director from 1976 until 2007. His territory as director was Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Alabama. He served as president of the local WFLA lodge for several years and as an officer at the state WFLA meetings.

Julius began selling insurance with RVOS in 1993, was elected as a board member on August 1, 2015, and retired January 24, 2023. His service area covered several Texas counties, and he attended most of the annual lodge meetings. He was a very proud Czech and made a lot of friends in RVOS. He loved speaking Czech and would when he found anyone who could converse with him.

Julius was a member of SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton; RVOS; WFLA (now called Better Life); Hermann Sons; KJT Society 132; Austin Czech Historical Association; and Travis/Williamson Counties Czech Heritage Society.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jeannie; son Travis Edward Dubcak, Sr., of Baytown; grandsons Travis Edward Dubcak, Jr. of Austin and Horacio Dubcak of La Porte; great-grandson Nicholas Julius Dubcak of Austin; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins in Texas and Kansas.

Pallbearers were Joe Lyles, Richard Hykel, Mike Nipper, Larry McEntire, Brian Ray, Ray Dubcak, and Travis Dubcak Sr.

Memorial donations in Julius’ name may be made to any of the Czech societies he was associated with: ACHA, c/o Helen Oelrich, 3571 Far West Boulevard, No. 151, Austin, Texas 78731; TWCCHS, c/o Frances Petter, 15604 Hebbe Lane, Pflugerville, Texas 78660; KJT, Shirley Pokorney, 10100 Bennet-Pokorney, Manor, Texas 78563; WFLA (Better Life), PO Box 1527, Madison, TX 53701; SPJST, PO Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503; or RVOS, PO Box 6106, Temple, Texas 76503. —SPJST—

In Memory of Milton Peterson

Milton Nelson Peterson, age 81, of Malone, Texas, passed away late Sunday evening, February 19, 2023, at Town Hall Estates in Hillsboro.

A rosary was recited at 6 p.m. Sunday, February 26 at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, followed by visitation until 8 p.m. Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, February 27 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Reverend Ed Karasek as celebrant. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Milton was born November 25, 1941, in West, the son of Harrison and Mennita (Lander) Peterson. He attended the old Leggott School, West Elementary, and was a 1959 graduate of West High School. On January 19, 1963, he was united in marriage to Irene Soukup in West.

Milton was an active hard-working, dedicated member of SPJST Lodge 6, Cottonwood. He served as president from 2006 to 2022. He was also a delegate to several past state SPJST Conventions including in 2021.

He was also a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Hillsboro; Hill County Farm Bureau; KJT Society 109, Hillsboro; Malone Volunteer Fire Department; and Hill County Cell Block Museum. He was a USDA field enumerator for more than 20 years and a board member for the Brandon and Irene Water Supply District. In 2017, Milton received the Pioneer Award for District 4 of the Texas Farm Bureau. He worked for the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington for 30 years, before retiring in 1992. Milton enjoyed playing “42,” attending and participating in tractor pulls, farming, having a cold Lone Star Beer, eating barbecue, going to auction sales, and tending to his cattle. He loved spending time with his family and was known by his nickname, “Let’s Go.”

Milton was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter Haley Lynn Peterson; and brothers-in-law Edward Soukup, Gary Hayes, George Soukup, and George Berger.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 60 years, Irene Peterson of Malone; children Kenneth Peterson, Kimberly Seith and husband Robert, Matthew Peterson and wife Naomi, and Marshall Peterson; sisters Nancy Hayes, Mary Mangrum and husband Boyd, and Mollie Hatton and husband Russell; sisters-in-law Ann Berger and Elleen Soukup; grandchildren Amelia Booth and husband Eli, John Peterson, Amber Perez and husband Joe, Ashley Pechacek and husband Adam, Courtney McGuire, Dakota Meadows and husband Thomas, Colton Peterson, Dylan Peterson and wife Ryann, and Paige Peterson; great-grandchildren Madison, Samuel, Cassandra, Abigail, Audrey, Kaden, Ella, Riley, Paeyton, Presley, Parker, Fenton, and one on the way; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Active pallbearers were Dylan Peterson, John Peterson, Colton Peterson, Jimmy Uptmore, Edward Nors, Brian Berger, Chris Hatton, and Dale Berger. Honorary pallbearers were his granddaughters, the Kelm Brothers, members of Hill County Farm Bureau, and members of Malone Volunteer Fire Department.

Memorials may be made to Malone Volunteer Fire Department or St. Mary’s Cemetery Association.

—SPJST—

In Memory of Georgie Soukup

Georgie Soukup, age 88, of Robinson, Texas, passed away early Saturday morning, January 21, 2023, at Ascension Providence Hospital in Waco.

A rosary was prayed at 6 p.m. Thursday, January 26 at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, followed by visitation until 8 p.m. Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, January 27 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of the Assumption in West with Reverend John Boiko as celebrant. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Georgie was born November 14,

1934, in Ross, the daughter of Alfons and Julia (Hykel) Hrabal. She attended the old Leggett School. On September 25, 1954, she was united in marriage to Alfons Soukup in Waco.

Georgie was a member of SPJST Lodge 6, Cottonwood and St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco. She worked as a seamstress for JM Woods Manufacturing for 20 years and worked at various frame shops in Waco for 20 years. Georgie enjoyed canning vegetables, quilting, crocheting, and baking with her great-granddaughters, Alivia and Tori. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Georgie was preceded in death by her parents; son Richard Soukup Sr.; brothers Eugene Hrabal Sr. and Alfons “Poncho” Hrabal Jr.; and sister Angie Kocian.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 68 years, Alfons Soukup of Robinson; daughter Beverly Williams of Waco; grandsons Richard Soukup Jr. and wife Brittany, Jake Williams and wife Lindsey, and Tye Williams and wife Lera; great-grandchildren Alivia, Tori, Brynn, Grady, and Claire; brother Eddie Ray Hrabal and wife Veronica; sister Irene Barber; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Active pallbearers were Thomas Matus, Stephen Hrabal, Vince Hrabal, Mark Kocian, Gene Hrabal, and Ronnie Kaska. Honorary pallbearers were Mike

Soukup, Tim Soukup, Terry Soukup, Chris Hrabal, Joe Williams, and Don Reeves Jr.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Cemetery Association in West. —SPJST—

In Memory of Joe Kocab

Joe Kocab passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2022. Joe was a member of the Czech Catholic Union/CCU Life for 85 years. In 1966, Joe became Vice President serving alongside Charles Hronek. In 1986, Joe was elected President serving until 1998 then continued to serve as Director/Past President until his death. Joe will be sadly missed by all that came in contact with him. It was a true pleasure knowing Joe. May he rest in peace. From Posel - CCU Life, Vol. C1 No. 1 January-February-March 2023

Editor’s Note: Joe submitted numerous recipes for the SPJST Tasty Traditions Cookbook published in 2012. We appreciate Joe’s lasting contributions to Czech heritage and culture.

—SPJST—

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