John Charles Horacek, age 94 years and four months, passed away May 13, 2020 at Cedar Village Retirement Home, Ness City, Kansas.

He was born at the family home near Rush Center, Kansas, the son of Czechoslovakian immigrants Frank and Mary Hrdlicka Horacek. He attended grade school through the eighth grade at Chilly Knob, the local country school at Rush Center, and then finished his high school education at LaCrosse, Kansas. On November 25, 1948, he married Bonnie Lavonne Spreier. This was a union that lasted 57 years until Bonnie passed away. He enjoyed farming for over 75 years. He was also a truck driver, insurance salesman, mechanic, carpenter, fix-it man and loved polka dancing.

John was a member of the Kansas Czechs from Wilson, Kansas, and served on the governing board as Chair. He was also a member of the Sunflower Polka Club of Russell, Kansas. John and Bonnie attended many dances during the Wilson Polka Days. John remarked several times, "I still love music as I always have although I don't play it as I used to. I love to hear quality harmony and the mood swings it can create. I also love my hobby of working with wood and metals in my well-equipped farm shop. I love tools. When I die, don't bring many flowers to my funeral, just bring tools."

In 2008, John, along with daughter and son-in-law Shirla and Danny and John's niece, Rose Mary, traveled to the Czech Republic and toured the country seeing the back roads and villages and getting to use his Czech language he grew up speaking. John was able to spend time with several relatives living there, who took them to the town of Benatky, from where John's parents emigrated. This was a trip of a lifetime for John and he continued talking about it for years.

Farming and cattle, his chosen work, were John's passion and love. He felt as one with the earth and took pride in planting and harvesting crops. He was very conscientious in protecting the soil and always used environmental preservation techniques to respect Mother Earth. In 1976, he was awarded the Ness County Bankers Award for outstanding conservation farming practices.

John is survived by his daughter Shirla and her husband Danny Walker of Laramie, Wyoming, and two sons, Larry Horacek of Arnold, Kansas and Danny and wife Cecilia of Munjor, Kansas; six grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie in 2005, his parents Frank and Mary Horacek, sister Mary Barron and brother Frank Horacek, Jr.

Family visitation was not available because of the ongoing Corona Virus Pandemic. Viewing was available on May 15, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. An interment will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2020, 11:00 a.m. at the Utica, Kansas Cemetery next to his beloved Bonnie.

The family requests no flowers, and memorials may be made to the Ransom, Kansas VFW or the Ransom Go-getter's Senior Center in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home.

IN MEMORY OF OUR FATHER

JOHN CHARLES HORACEK

My brothers, Larry and Danny, and I, Shirla, thank you, our friends and relatives for coming here today. We mourn the loss of our father but celebrate the life of a man who sacrificed and gave his all for his family.

John Charles Horacek, 94 years and 4 months of age, was born at home on the farm near Rush Center, Kansas, delivered by the local physician, Doctor Baker. He was the third child of Czechoslovakian immigrant parents, Frank and Mary Hrdlicka Horacek. His older siblings were a sister, Mary Barron, and brother, Frank Horacek, Jr., with ten to seven years age difference between he, Mary and Frank.

John walked to grade school through the eighth grade at Chilly Knob, the local country school at Rush Center, and then finished his high school education at LaCrosse, Kansas.

He once said, "If I knew I was going to live so long, I would've taken better care of myself." Mother Nature didn't help when he was born with medical problems. This kept him out of World War II, however, he put in his service on the home front.

While his brother Frank was away in the service during World War II, our dad saved his brother's farm for him by farming it for four years, without pay, because he loved his brother and was glad Frank came home alive. He also helped his son, Larry, for years in farming and other matters.

After two or three years of the single life after high school, Dad said "I found someone who was used to eating steak at home, but she was willing to settle for baloney and bread." On November 25, 1948, he married Bonnie Lavonne Spreier. This was a union that lasted 57 years. They had three children, daughter Shirla, and sons Larry and Danny.

In my Dad's words "Farm life was the direction we moved toward as farm land became available. After the first two of the three children were added to the family, a tornado struck in 1951, disrupting a comfortable life. It took about five years to clean up the mess. Thereafter, life went on with the usual illness and some hardships but mostly things went well."

Dad sort of retired from farming after 74 years, but continued helping his son Larry when needed. Work became his hobby. A second home was purchased in Ransom to begin retirement years. He had a back operation at the age of 86 in 2012 and then two more back operations in 2018 at the age of 92, which began the big decline in his health.

Dad had a good singing voice and a wonderful whistling melody and loved polka music. His biggest regret was he wished he had continued playing his musical instruments; trumpet, tuba, and trombone, but farming took all his energy. Every weekend, with bass thumping, ethnic rhythms and vibrations blaring throughout the house, he would have ALL the radios in the house tuned to KRSL during the polka show, or the television to Lawrence Welk, the Big Joe Polka Show, the Mollie B Polka Party or Jimmie Sturr programs.

He was a member of the Kansas Czechs from Wilson, Kansas, and served on the governing board as Chair. He was also a member of the Sunflower Polka Club of Russell, Kansas. Mother and Dad attended many dances during the Wilson Polka Days. Dad remarked several times, "I have always loved music. I love to hear quality harmony and the mood swings it can create. I love my hobbies of reading and working with wood and metals in my well-equipped farm shop. I love tools. When I die, don't bring many flowers to my funeral, just bring tools."

Dad's hands were never still. He was a mechanic, carpenter or a fix-it-up man and a barber. He always cut his own hair. His hands and legs were usually banged up and calloused. Farming and cattle, his chosen work, were his passion and love. He felt as one with the earth and took pride in planting and harvesting crops. He was very conscientious in protecting the soil and always used environmental preservation techniques to respect Mother Earth. In 1976, he was awarded the Ness County Bankers Award for outstanding conservation farming practices. For a short time, Dad also drove a transport truck and sold hail crop insurance.

In 2008, John, along with daughter and son-in-law Shirla and Danny and John's niece, Rose Mary, traveled to the Czech Republic and toured the country seeing the back roads and villages, and getting to use his Czech language. John was able to spend time with several relatives living there, who took them to the town of Benatky, from where John's parents emigrated. This was a trip of a lifetime for John and he continued talking about it for years.

Dad is known to talk endlessly for hours. Part of this was about his growing-up years: the hardships of being raised by strict European parents, the war, the droughts, and the Great Depression. Dad was a possessive and protective father with high moral expectations. This also came from his European background. He expected his children to do their chores, go to school, get decent grades and be good people.

He talked about the need to get a formal education; about standards and values, developing character and what it all meant in the course of one's life. Dad talked about when to cut loses and walk away and when to stick it out, even in the face of adversity. Most of the time, he talked about sticking it out in the face of adversity because his life was filled with adversity. Dad worked hard all his life, saving money and teaching by example. He bought and paid for several pieces of land over the years with his own two hands with grit and determination; but not without the inseparable and indispensable partnership of his wife, Bonnie. Bonnie, with the grace of an angel and iron determination, worked just as hard as Dad, and always side by side with him. On several occasions he said, "I couldn't have accomplished what I owned without Bonnie's help."

Dad possessed a great kindness and a special zest for living. He'd help out his sick neighbor friends with harvesting or mowing and never expected anything in return.

He never lost his optimism. He would get up every day and deal with the many losses over the years from the fickle attitude of Mother Nature.

Since Dad grew up in a poor family, he knew the value of a dollar and how and when to spend it wisely. He knew, through many hard lessons through his life, he had only himself and mother to depend on. He never wanted to re-live the poor life he grew up knowing. Even when times were hard and money was scarce, he put what money he could into savings.

His pride was not to owe a penny to anyone but to have earned it all by himself. Through Dad's legacy of sacrifice, he proved that through perseverance, you can beat the failures and still succeed.

Dad was a person who didn't talk love. But his love was always there, evident in the dust on his face and the sweat on his brow when he came home in the wee hours of the night.

He had a funny sense of humor; using an ice cream bucket to carry his essentials; using masking tape as a door sealer to keep out the crickets; his 30 pound gold nugget rock at the front door; ironing money to flatten it so more would fit in his wallet. He enjoyed funny birthday cards and funny mechanical toys. He never tired of eating fried chicken and had an obsession for a clean and shiny car even in winter. His memory of his neighbors, family, names, and places was astounding.

He epitomized in many ways the American dream. He was a self-made man who came from a humble background and achieved success through his talent and hard work.

To his indomitable spirit, We Love You, Dad, and many thanks for what you did without for your family.

When I'm Gone

When I come to the end of my journey

And/ travel my last weary mile,

Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned.

And remember only the smile.

Forget unkind words I have spoken;

Remember some good I have done,

Forget that I ever had a heartache

And remember I've had loads of fun.

Forget that I have stumbled and blundered

And sometimes fell by the way.

Remember I have fought some hard battles

And won, ere the close of the day,

Then forget to grieve for my going,

I would not have you sad for a day,

But in summer just gather some flowers

And remember the place where I lay,

And come in the evening

When the sun paints the sky in the west

Stand for a few moments beside me

And remember only my best.

--- author unknown