Robert John Vlcek was born Dec. 6, 1926, on a farm near Pleasant Dale, to Frank and Rose (Stehlik) Vlcek, the second of three children and passed away on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at the Exeter Care Center in Exeter at the age of 87 years, 1 month and 27 days. Frank, Rose, Norman, Robert and Lorraine all spoke Czech at home until Norman started to school; Norman then learned the English language and taught his family at home.
As a young boy, Bob started school near Pleasant Dale at country school District 19. In 1934 the family moved to the home place north and east of Cordova where Dacel and Doug live now. He then attended country school District 35 just west of the home place. Bob completed his education attending Cordova School District 88 and graduated with the Class of 1945.
Bob loved playing marbles and competed in the marble tournaments in school. As a young boy he liked to hunt and fish with his dad, brother and sister down at the Blue River. Bob worked on the farm with his father until joining the U.S. Army in 1950 and returned to the farm in 1952 upon his discharge. For a time, Bob was stationed in occupied Germany. He loved baseball and played lots of it. If he wasn’t out working in the fields with his dad, he would be practicing pitching with his sister Lorraine as his catcher.
On May 6, 1958, Bob was united in marriage to Beverly J. Stewart and they were blessed with two children, a daughter, Dacel, and a son, Davin.
Robert and Beverly made their home near Cordova on the farm where Bob grew up. They lived on the farm together and raised their family for almost 50 years until Beverly passed away in 2007. In November 2008, he moved to the Exeter Care Center enjoying great care until he passed away. Bob especially enjoyed playing cards with his best friend, Rex Bulwan.
He loved farming and raising livestock and that’s where you could always find him. He could fix almost anything using almost nothing. As busy as he was on the farm, he rarely missed any of his kids’ activities. Bob loved his family, adored his grandkids and up until his last days, he loved visiting with them and he wanted to know about everything they were doing. He was so very proud of each of them.
Bob served on many local boards including the Elevator Board, Cordova Cooperative Credit Association, various church boards, and was a member of the Cordova Rural Volunteer Fire Department and the Friend United Church of Christ. In March of 2013, he was presented with a Certificate of continuous membership for 60 years from the Cordova American Legion Post 359.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Dacel and Douglas Thomsen, Cordova, son, Davin Vlcek, Beatrice, three grandchildren, Jared Thomsen, Brainard, Mackenzie Thomsen and fiancé, Nate Gauss, both of Marquette, Mich., and Maitlyn Thomsen, Cordova, brother and sisters-in-law, Norman and Gladys Vlcek, Baraboo, Wis., and Lorraine Hansen, Cordova, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Rose, his wife, Beverly in 2007, brother-in-law, Woodrow Hansen, parents-in-law, Albert and Verda Stewart, and sister-in-law, Gwendolyn Stewart.
A funeral service was held Feb. 6, 2014, at the United Church of Christ with the Rev. Kenneth Leischner officiating.
Interment was in Andrew Cemetery, Friend, with military services conducted by the Cordova American Legion Post #359. Memorials have been established to the Cordova American Legion or to the Exeter Care Center.
Pallbearers were Chuck and Jeff Hansen, Kent Olsen, Joe Fehlhafer, Michael Eberspacher and Todd Ricenbaw. Honorary pallbearers were Jared, Mackenzie and Maitlyn Thomsen, Ava Roush, Beth Dinneen, Cheri Beck, Mark Vlcek, Gail Rebello and Roxanne Vlcek. Shirley Milton, organist, accompanied Gloria Riley, soloist as she sang “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” The congregational hymn was “Amazing Grace.”
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend and condolences may be sent to the family at laubermoore.com.
