Jerry W. Janek

Jerry W. Janek, age 69, of Abbott, passed away late Thursday afternoon, September 30, 2010 at his residence. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at the West Brethren Church, with Rev. Curtis Holland officiating. Burial will follow at West Brethren Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Mr. Janek was born August 29, 1941 in Penelope, the son of Frank J. and Wilma Anne (Skarpa) Janek. He attended schools in West and graduated from West High School in 1959, where he was voted to the Super Cen-Tex Basketball Team. He attended Decatur Baptist Jr. College on a basketball scholarship where he was named a Junior College All-American. He was named MVP and team captain for Arlington State College (UTA) and graduated from Texas Wesleyan University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. On June 6, 1964 he was united in marriage to Karen Briggs in Ft. Worth. Jerry was the president of A-Briggs Air Conditioning Company in Ft. Worth for over 25 years before retiring in 1994. He also worked for the West Independent School District for 4 years and for LTV Aeronautical Plant in Grand Prairie for 7 years. Jerry was a member of the West Brethren Church where he served on the Board of Elders. He was also a 50 year member of the S.P.J.S.T. Lodge #6 in Cottonwood where he was voted Lodge King in 1959. Jerry enjoyed driving his John Deere tractor, collecting antique cars, and watching westerns. He was known as a sports fanatic, keeping up with his favorite teams, the Dallas Cowboys, West Trojans, and Valley Mills Eagles. He was a 1996 charter member of the West High Sports Hall of Fame. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Glenora Pustejovsky and an infant, Naoma Janek. Survivors include his beloved wife of 46 years, Karen Janek of Abbott; two sons, Bradley Janek and wife Jody of Valley Mills and Jeffrey Janek and wife Yildiz of Sao Paulo, Brazil; two sisters, Laverne Mikeska of West and Valeria Mae Helona of Abbott; his mother-in-law, Claudene D. Epperly of Hillsboro; a brother-in-law, Bill Briggs and wife Carol of Dana Point, California; six grandchildren, Blake, Jacie, Jenna, Caroline, Isabella, and Nicholas; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Dennis Pustejovsky, Bradley Janek, Jeffrey Janek, Blake Janek, Jonathan Janek, Bobby Joe Janek, Ben Beseda, and Jackie Davenport. Honorary pallbearers are Raymond Jaska, Danny Brodbeck, Glen Cheek, Billy Sparks, Frank Tatum, and the West High School Class of 1959. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Brethren Cemetery Association or the charity of your choice.