Jim Vanek

Jim Vanek, 101, of Hallettsville, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2023.
Jim was born October 27, 1922, in the Sweet Home area, to Josef and Emilie Pratka Vanek. He married Elizabeth Berger on May 18, 1948 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Jim grew up in the Sweet Home area, working alongside his family on their farm while attending school in Sweet Home. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, trapping, and playing baseball. Jim moved to Houston and worked for a venetian blind company before enlisting into the U.S. Navy during WWII. Jim served his country honorably aboard a PC 486 in the Pacific.
After the war, he returned to Houston where he met Elizabeth Berger and later married. They resided in Houston while Jim worked for Houston Sash and Door and later with Boise Cascade where he eventually retired. He and Elizabeth moved back to Hallettsville where Jim enjoyed gardening and deer hunting.
Jim enjoyed barbequing and was popularly hailed by family and friends for his delicious BBQ. However, it was Jim’s famous stew that folks would so often call upon him to cook for special events and to this day his stew remains legendary. Jim loved to watch football in his later years, no particular favorite team, just football in general.
Though the years had caught up with Jim, he relayed the same answer when asked how he was doing, “I can’t complain” as though his years were many, but worth the living.
Jim Vanek is survived by his loving children, daughters, Beverly Greenstein (Carl) of New Ulm, Dianne Miller (Jeffrey) of Houston; sons, James Vanek (Francis) of Weimar, and Robert Vanek (Peggy) of Hallettsville; sister, Vlasta Demint of Albuquerque, New Mexico; 14 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and brothers, Felix, and Rudolf Vanek.
The family received friends from 5 - 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 12 at Shiner Funeral Home.
A funeral service outside of Mass will be held at 10 a.m.Wednesday, December 13 at Shiner Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bryan Heyer and Deacon Michael Morkovsky officiating.
Interment will follow in the Shiner Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Mark Zimmerman, Aaron Miller, Eddie Vanek, Andy Vanek, Daniel Vanek and Chris Greenstein.
Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.shinerfuneralhome.com.
Services are under the care and direction of Shiner Funeral Home.