Frank J. Nemec

Frank J. Nemec, age 103, of West passed away early Friday morning, December 22, 2017 at Providence Hospice Place in Waco. A rosary will be recited 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, followed by visitation until 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Rev. Darrell Kostiha as celebrant. Military Graveside Rites will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, conducted by the West Veterans Honor Guard. Frank was born October 17, 1914 in McLennan County in the West community area known as Cottonwood. He was the fifth of seven children to parents, Paul and Mary (Bukowski) Nemec. He attended St. Joseph and Cottonwood schools. As a young man Frank farmed (primarily cotton) in the Cottonwood area just outside of West and played semi pro baseball for many years for Cottonwood in the Waco News Cup Race. In 1942 he volunteered to serve his country with the United States Marine Corp during World War II with the 1st Marine Division. He participated in the beachhead invasion at New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa, all against the Japanese Army in the Pacific theater. Frank also served in the war zone of Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Pavuvu, and the Goodenough Islands. He spent 28 straight months in the war zone, plus a 3 month occupational duty in China after the war. Frank received a good conduct medal and the Asiatic Pacific Medal. His unit, Co. B of the 1st Tank Battalion, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for the Guadalcanal and the Okinawa operations. He was honorably discharged on July 3, 1946. In 1947 Frank became a maintenance and sewing machine repairman for the garment industry. He worked for industrial businesses and did home sewing machine repair for over 60 years. He held positions with Lorch Mfg. Co. in Decatur, Dallas, and West. He also worked for Wolf Manufacturing in Waco and West, Nardis Sportswear in Dallas, and the Crawford and Austin Manufacturing Co. of Waco. On November 26, 1953 he was united in marriage to Alice Marie Raby (whom he met while they were working together at a sewing factory at what is now the Playdium swimming pool in West). Alice preceded him in death on December 6, 2000. In 1965, Frank and his wife opened the first complete fabric store in West known as Family Fabrics which they operated together until they retired in 1980. Frank served as a director of the West Chamber of Commerce, the West Industrial Foundation and the St. Marys School Board for many years. He also coached little league boys and girls baseball and softball teams in West for 20 years. Frank is a life member of the V.F.W. Post #4819, Knights of Columbus Council #2305, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 3, and the 1st Marine Division Association. He is also a member of the K.J.T. Society #31 and American Legion Post #478. Frank is a lifelong member of the Assumption Catholic Church in West. One of his earliest teenage memories is that he helped build the St. Joseph Hall next to the Church. Frank enjoyed all sports and loved to tell stories of his numerous memories of the history of West. He was currently a resident at West Rest Haven and enjoyed daily domino games there with his many domino buddies. Frank is also preceded in death by his parents; a son, John Nemec; brothers, Emil, Joe, Louis and Vinc Nemec; and sisters, Maggie Tomasek Schroeder and Adele Snapka. Survivors include a daughter, Rita Dickinson and husband Mark of Port Huron, Michigan; sons, Stanley Nemec and wife Betty of Belton, David Nemec and wife Dolores of Waco and Tim Nemec and wife Laura of Crawford; grandchildren, Krista Hosmer and her husband Kenny, Lindsay Evans and her husband Justin, Ryan Nemec and his wife Whitley, Scott Nemec, Tyler Nemec, Braden Nemec, Kyle Dickinson, Alan Galinsky and Leigh-Ann Alvarez and her husband Ruben; great grandchildren, Wynn Nemec, Addison Evans, Graham Nemec, Justin Evans Jr., Rhett Hosmer, Andrew Alvarez and Mila Alvarez; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Pallbearers will be Krista Hosmer, Lindsay Evans, Ryan Nemec, Scott Nemec, Tyler Nemec, Kyle Dickinson, Braden Nemec, Alan Galinsky, and Leigh-Ann Alvarez. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Mary's Catholic Church Building Fund or to the charity of your choice.