Robert Janota
Robert Lee Janota, 76, of Shiner, entered
Heaven on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.
Robert was born on Sept. 30, 1945, in Gonzales
County at Crews Hospital, to Charlie
Joe Janota and Albina Ella Stefka Janota.
A lifelong Catholic, he was baptized at St.
James Catholic Church in Gonzales, where
he would receive his First Communion with
Father Mathey in 1956 and his First Confirmation
with Bishop Lucy in 1961.
He grew up on a farm and was very
involved in everything from picking cotton to milking
cows and collecting eggs. He attended school in Gonzales,
graduating from Gonzales High School in 1963,
and joked with his kids that he had to walk uphill, both
ways, in the snow, to get to school each day.
While in school, Robert developed a passion for music,
and was excited to receive a scholarship to attend
the Texas College of Arts and Industries (later renamed
Texas A&I University) in Kingsville. He loved those
college years, but he returned home in 1967 when his
mother passed away.
He intended to remain at Texas A&I University after
earning his bachelor’s degrees in music, as he was even
offered a graduate assistantship, but his dad asked him
to come home to Gonzales and teach at the high school,
since he had taken enough hours in music education.
And because family was the most important thing to
Robert, that’s what he did. Robert taught band at Gonzales
High School from 1967-71, and then at Moulton
High School from 1971-79. He also taught band at St.
Paul High School in Shiner from 1972-1979.
Robert thoroughly enjoyed those bachelor years,
and he had many friends from nights shooting pool at
The Club and other local beer joints, playing music, attending
dances, playing dominos and driving around.
Many of the stories have been exaggerated or lost over
the years, but good friends would recount, with a mischievous
twinkle in their eye, what a character Robert
was back in the day.
It took two serious car wrecks and a good woman to
finally tame him. And Robert fell for the love of his life
while recuperating in the Shiner Hospital after that second
wreck. Eight short months later, after a whirlwind
courtship, Robert married Peggy Marie Valis on Aug.
5, 1978 (her 20th birthday), at SS. Cyril and Methodius
Catholic Church in Shiner. They built a house and their
lives together in “Kokernot Hill” between Gonzales
and Shiner.
Robert took took a year off from teaching in 1979-80
to start his Farmers Insurance business, but when his
former students threatened to quit band if he didn’t
come back, he returned to teaching at St. Paul again
from 1980-82, while continuing his insurance career.
He and Peggy also started a family, and Robert’s greatest
joy was being a dad. They had three children and
spent their weekends tending cattle at their property
in Nickel, barbecuing, hanging out with friends and
family in local beer joints, and fishing.
Robert enjoyed treating the kids to ice cream, snacks
for the drive home on Friday evenings, quarters for a
jukebox and $5 for straight A’s on their report cards.
The family attended church together, where
Robert sang, led the choir, and actively participated
as a member (and eventual 4th
Degree Knight) of the Knights of Columbus
Council 5090. The family also traveled often
to nearby communities while Robert was
a proud member of both the Shiner Hobo
Band and the Round Top Brass Band. He
loved his friends from The Bunch, his Czech
genealogy and polka music.
Robert played all instruments, but trombone
and harmonica were his favorites. He loved entertaining
a crowd, big or small, with music and jokes.
And his laugh was so big, loud, often and unique that
his kids would use the sound of his laugh to find him
in a crowded room.
After retiring from Farmers Insurance in 2008, and
seeing his children off to college, Robert also happily
welcomed grandchildren. And he loved being a Papa!
He could no longer let kiddos ride on his back or sit in
his lap to drive a truck, but he entertained his beloved
grandchildren with stories and more jokes. And he
enjoyed his final years reminiscing with good friends
from Gonzales, Moulton and Shiner, including his fellow
members of the 621st Mess Kit Repair Club.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Janota of Shiner;
daughters, Jocelyn Sexton (Scott) of Dripping Springs,
and Haley Boney (Matthew) of Pine Grove, Louisiana;
son, Nicholas Janota (wife Alex) of Leander; brother,
Clarence Janota (Mary Ann) of Sinton; sister-in-law,
Millie Janota; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews
and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers,
Charlie Janota and Clifton Janota; sisters-in-laws, Pippen
and Martha Janota; and beloved grandparents.
Robert’s immediate family will have a private funeral,
with interment to follow in the St. James Catholic
Cemetery in Gonzales. Friends may leave their condolences
with the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.
com. The family sends a special thank you to the
staff at the Texan Nursing & Rehabilitation of Gonzales,
as well as Dr. Sean Hattenbach and Dr. James Drost, for
their care and compassion over the years.
A private family Funeral Mass was held at St. James
Catholic Church.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of
Seydler-Hill Funeral Home, Gonzales.
Friends may sign the guestbook and leave condolences
by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com