Edwin A. Vrana

Edwin A. Vrana, age 92, of West, passed away early Thursday morning, July 26, 2012 at West Rest Haven in West. Graveside services will be held 9:00 a.m. Saturday at Fatima Cemetery near Abbott, with Rev. Boniface Onjefu officiating. Military Honors will be conducted by the West Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at Aderhold Funeral Home in West. Mr. Vrana was born September 17, 1919 in Fayetteville, the son of August and Josephine (Machacek) Vrana. They soon moved to the Abbott area where he attended school. On February 28, 1941 he was united in marriage to Estelle "Esther" Pavlas in Abbott. She preceded him in death on April 2, 2008. Edwin served his country with the United States Army during World War II in the North African Theatre, Sicily and Germany. While in Germany, he was wounded and captured becoming a Prisoner of War. For his injuries in battle he was awarded a Purple Heart. Upon his return, he worked as a carpenter for the Roy Herring Construction Company and the Henry Beck Construction Company for over 55 years before retiring in 1993. He was also co-owner of the Circle Burger in West for many years. Edwin was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4819 and the West Bass Club. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, Bar-B-Queuing, collecting old coins, and selling fireworks. Edwin is also preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Lillian Kaska and Edna McCoy. Survivors include two sons, Larry Vrana and wife Gayle of Dallas and Gary Vrana and wife Terri of Gholson; a daughter, Pat Seace and husband William of Irving; a sister, Estelle Ray; grandchildren, Kirk Seace and wife Susie, Michael Vrana, Matthew Vrana and Michelle, and Caitlin Vrana; a great granddaughter, Kadence Vrana; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Rest Haven Memorial Fund.