Vaclav “Jim” Joseph Jasek

Vaclav “Jim” Joseph Jasek, a resident in the Novohrad community located east of Moulton, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at the age of 89.  

Jim graduated from Moulton High School in the class of 1951.  He was an army veteran.  

In 1964, Jim received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston.  He was employed by Texaco/Star Enterprise for 30 years.  He resided with his family in Baton Rouge, La., for 50 plus years.  

Jim was very active in many community and church organizations.  He was a Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus.  Jim and his wife, Virginia Shelly moved back to Texas in 2019 to the homestead property of his maternal great-grandparents, Frantisek/Johana Migl.

 Jim was most proud of being one of the descendants who restored and donated the house from the property built in 1890 to the “Texas Czech Heritage Cultural Center” (TCHCC) where it is known as the “Migl House.”

Jim is survived by his wife of 36 years; daughter, Kimberly Ann Beavers and husband, Andres; stepson, Brian M. Kinney and wife, Christina, and their children, Clara Anne and Lillian Marie; grandson, Marvin Guest IV and wife, Yolie and their children, Manny Guest IV, Elias and Jamie; grandson, Joseph Hunter Guest and wife, Erin, and their children, Wyatt, Emmett and Colleen Guest; sister-in-law, Marlies Jasek.

Jim was preceded in death by his son, Brian Timothy; his parents, Vaclav J. and Anna (Migl) Jasek; sisters, Bernadette Motal and Mary Sutton; brothers, Leon, Patrick and Benedict Jasek; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Jasek, Pamela Jasek and Bobbie Jasek.

Visitation began at 5 p.m. and continued until 6 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home, Sunday, Nov. 26. Rosary was recited at  6 p.m. at the funeral home. 

Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 27,  at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Praha. Father Gabriel Maison officiated.

Burial will follow at a later date in the Praha cemetery where his son,  Brian; brother, Ben; parents, maternal and paternal grandparents, and all eight great-grandparents are buried.

Pallbearers were Marvin Guest, Hunter Guest, Clara Kinney, Paul Motal, Trish Murphy and Roberta Nieto.

Honorary pallbearers were Thomas Motal, Mark Jasek, Art Migl, Kyle Jasek, Troy Jasek, Julie Martins and Jason Yeomans.

Consider making a memorial donation to the “Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center” (Migl House), PO Box 6, La Grange, Texas 78945.

Love One Another

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.smithfuneraltx.com

Smith Funeral Home, Moulton, was in charge of arrangements.