Erwin Emil Janek

Erwin Emil Janek passed away early Thursday morning, October 31, 2013. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 4th at the First United Methodist Church in San Marcos, with Rev. Jenna Heart officiating. Graveside services will be held 4:00 p.m. Monday at West Brethren Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, November 3, at Thomason Funeral Home in San Marcos. Erwin was born on October 27, 1948 in Waco, TX to Emil and Ann (Lovecky) Janek and grew up on a farm in West. He attended West High School and graduated in 1967. On March 23, 1967 he began what would be a forty year career with the JC Penney Co. His first job was as a janitor of the Waco JC Penney store. He graduated from McLennan Community College in Waco and then attended the University of Texas while completing a manager trainee program in Austin at the Highland Mall JCPenney store. He married Vicki Volcik on June 12, 1971. His first promotion as merchandise manager was to Albuquerque, NM in April 1972. As a merchandising manager, Erwin was promoted to Oklahoma City, OK in October 1973 and helped open a new store at Crossroads Mall. In February 1976 Erwin was promoted as Senior Merchandising Manager to North Little Rock, AR. Their daughter Amanda was born in Little Rock on October 15, 1977. Almost a year later In September 1978, Erwin was once again asked to move and help open a new store in Fayetteville, AR. Then it was back to North Little Rock, AR in November 1980. Moving again in May 1982, Erwin joined the JCPenny Southwest District staff in Tulsa, Ok and then he joined the regional staff in Plano, TX in September 1983. Finally, the last physical move was to San Marcos, TX to manage the JCPenney store effective August 1, 1986. Not wanting to move from beautiful San Marcos, Erwin took over as store manager of the JCPenney store in Sequin, TX on July 1, 1988. He was granted the Chairman's Award of Excellence from JCPenney in 1994 for continued growth and profitability. Despite his long and successful JCPenney career, Erwin excelled at being the best "retired" man in the whole wide world. Just ask him for help and he was there. Whether it was his Church (First United Methodist) or his sister Church (El Buen Pastor), the Emmaus Community or the San Marcos Community, he tried to be the hands and feet of Christ. One of his greatest joys was going to the valley on Mission Service Projects with the youth of the Church along with his best friend Bill. Bill said it best "he is an irreplaceable friend". His sense of humor, smiles and presence will be missed by Vicki and Amanda. He is also survived by his sister Doris Schneider and her children David, Joshua and Rebecca. Other survivors are Polly Volcik of West, Harry and Rose Volcik of Waco, Jeanette and James Holecek , Loretta Volcik and Daniel Deiterman all of West, TX, nephews Alan and Travis Volcik of Waco, Jason Holecek of Lewisville, John Holecek of Abbott and Nicholas Deiterman. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Brethren Church.