Jan Vaculik

Jan Vaculik, age 79, of West, passed away early Friday morning, November 22, 2024 at the Heritage Gardens Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Carrollton.

Memorial Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, with Grant Kaul officiating. Inurnment will be at Bold Springs Cemetery near West. The family will receive visitors from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. 

Jan was born on March 22, 1945, in Miloslavov, Slovakia, was a devoted member of the community and a passionate promoter of Czech culture and heritage. The son of the late Karol and Ludmila (Simcikova) Vaculik, Jan's educational journey began at Hluk School and continued through Uherske Hradiste High School, both located in the Czech Republic. He furthered his studies at Masaryk University in Brno and the University of California in Los Angeles. Jan’s personal life was marked by his marriage to Marcela Thalova on March 20, 1981, in West, Texas. Sadly, Marcela passed away on February 19, 2024. Together, they shared a life full of cultural involvement, service, and dedication to their community. A committed member of the Fellowship Bible Church in Waco, Jan's community engagement extended far beyond his church. He was a longtime member of the SPJST Lodge #54, where he contributed as Czech Reporter for over four decades. He also made significant contributions to the West Sokol organization, serving as a charter member and gymnastics instructor since 1975. He was a director and Czech Reporter for the Czech Education Foundation of Texas. He was a member of the McLennan/Hill Czech Heritage Society, and volunteered for Westfest, working in the genealogy booth. In his professional life, Jan was a prominent figure in local media. He was the owner, operator, and publisher of the Hospodar Newspaper in West for over 20 years before retiring in 2013. Earlier in his career, he worked as a printer for the West News from 1975 to 1989. Jan's many interests included volunteering with Sokol, translating the Czech language, researching genealogy, and preserving history through translation. He also enjoyed photography, as well as collecting stamps and coins. His love for the Czech language and culture was reflected in his efforts to teach Czech language classes to others, sharing his deep knowledge and passion with the next generation. Jan’s legacy is one of dedication to family, heritage, and community service. His contributions to preserving Czech traditions in Texas, as well as his involvement in cultural and educational activities, left a lasting impact.

Survivors include his two children, Jana Riley and Jon Vaculik, both of West; a brother, Karol Vaculik and wife Kveta; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Sokol, Czech Education Foundation of Texas; William J. Hlavinka Fellowship at Texas A&M University or charity of choice.