John Johnnie C. Vacek

The Vacek family is sad to announce the passing of John C. "Johnnie" Vacek, Sunday, March 4, 2007. John was born June 18, 1928 in Needville to Joseph Frank Vacek and Frances Drapela Vacek. He was the eighth of nine children that played his part in a generation of families that farmed their land. They were witness to discipline and hard work that influenced them for their entire life. A strong faith passed down through generations swayed John's parents to shape the concepts of their children's lives. If the horse that plowed the fields needed to rest on Sunday, the Vacek family prayed at home. These valued had a direct effect on the responsibility John felt for his own parish throughout the rest of his life. At first, John attended school at Concord School in Fairchilds. Later, he went to live with one of his older brothers in Rosenberg and attended Holy Rosary School. As a young adult, John attended Barber School in Houston in 1949, and then under the tutelage of a barber in Wharton, he began a career that spanned a course of 46 years. On June 1, 1950, John married Doris Gibson and began a journey of love and friendship that would last 56 years. In 1953, the Vacek's moved to Rosenberg where John acquired City Barber Shop, where he worked until he retired in 1996. Back then, Rosenberg businessmen had time to enjoy each other's company and satisfied customers stayed longer than necessary to discuss the town talk. And, John only charged for the hair cut or to trim a beard; the advice was always on the house. John loved to fish or enjoy time with his brothers and sisters-in-law on the deer lease they shared for over 30 years. At home, he spent many hours in the shop fixing things, or using his imagination to build something he needed but couldn't buy. He was close in age to his older sibling's children, and his nieces and nephews loved the mischievous prankster that he was. Family was paramount for John and beyond spending time with his children and grandchildren, he loved to garden. It kept his own life in rhythm to the planting and harvesting time he knew growing up. Johnnie passed away at OakBend Medical Center in Richmond. He was preceded in death by his daughter Sandra Jo Vacek; grandson Andrew Murrile; brothers: Raymond Vacek of Fairchilds, Joe Vacek of El Campo, and Ludy Vacek of Rosenberg; sisters: Ann Mensik and Frances Kaminski of Rosenberg, and Hatti Krenek Trilicek of Garwood. He is survived by his loving wife, Doris; their children: Linda Murrile and husband, Don, of Richmond, Brenda Woodham and husband, Fred, of Bozeman, Mont., and Chris Vacek and wife, Karen, of Rosenberg; grandchildren: Lindsey Murrile, Tyler Murrile and wife, Brianne, Ryan, Cristin and Nicole Woodham, and Megan and Logan Vacek; great-grandchildren: Morgan, Kelcie, and Alec Murrile, Zachary Plummer and Tyler Ryan Jentzen; sister, Ellen Warren of Rosenberg; and brother, Louis Vacek and wife, Elda, of Bellville; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday March 7, 2007, with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m., at Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg. A funeral Mass to celebrate his life is at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 8, 2007 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Rosenberg with the Rev. Dan Warden officiating. "Our dad was an outstanding human being who lived well and loved well. Our lives have been richly blessed by the life that he led and the man that he was." Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3900 B.F. Terry Blvd. in Rosenberg. 281-341-8800.

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John Johnnie C. Vacek

June 18, 1928 - March 4, 2007