Rudolph A. Klecka

Rudolph "Rudy" Klecka, Sr. of East Bernard, Texas passed away peacefully on November 20, 2011. He was born to John and Caroline Toman Klecka in East Bernard, Texas on May 10, 1919 and lived his entire life in East Bernard, an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church faith community as a member of the Knights of Columbus #2500. He was also a member of the American Legion, Post 226 in East Bernard. On November 28, 1941, he married his high school sweetheart, Henrietta Urbish Klecka. In 1946 they opened their small business, Klecka's Dry Goods and Cleaners on Leveridge Street, where they also sold Czech crystal, jewelry and other items brought from the Czech Republic. Rudy served in the U. S. Army from 1941 until the end of World War II in 1945. While stationed in England, he met several Czech aviators serving in the R. A. F., which proved to be lifelong friendships. From 1969 through 2004, Rudy and Henrietta led tours as KlubKontinental primarily to the Czech Republic and kept up with these aviators and their families. Thousands of Czech and American Moravians found their relatives and at the same time, kept the ties between a free USA and a Communist ancestral home, and with it, hope for freedom alive. After the 1989 Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, Rudy and Henrietta joined several Czech American and Czech émigré physicians in the Houston area as Founding Board Members to found The Texas-Czech Physician Exchange Program, hosting Czech doctors for three month exchange studies tours at the Houston Medical Center. With his wife, Rudy was also Board Member of the Czech Culture Center in Houston, Texas. In 2005, Rudy was the recipient of the "Czernin Palace Bronze Memorial Medal" in gratitude to him and Henrietta for their significant contributions in preserving and promoting relations between the Czech Republic and the United States of America. Rudy is survived by three sons: Rudy Nathan, James Michael Patricia, Edward Henry Angelita, eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and a brother, August of East Bernard, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings and his wife Henrietta. Visitation will be on Friday, November 25 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, followed by the Funeral Liturgy at 10:00 AM, Holy Cross Church, 839 Church Street, East Bernard, Texas. Pallbearers are Johnnie Klecka, Patrick Klecka, Kim Klecka, Joshua Klecka, James Dusek and John Murrile. Memorial donations may be sent to Holy Cross Church, PO Box 1325, East Bernard, Texas 77435; the Texas-Czech Physician Exchange Program or the Czech Cultural Center in Houston. Words of condolence may be left for the Klecka family at www.davisgreenlawnfh.com. Service arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3900 B. F. Terry Blvd., Rosenberg, Texas, 77471, 281-341-8800.

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Rudolph A. Klecka

May 10, 1919 - November 20, 2011