Joe E. Zahirniak

Joe E. Zahirniak, age 79, of West, passed away late Friday afternoon, September 28, 2007 at his residence. A rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 2:00 p.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with the Rev. Ed Karasek and Msgr. Isidore Rozycki as celebrants. Military Graveside Rites will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery conducted by V.F.W. Post No. 4819 of West. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Aderhold Funeral Home. Mr. Zahirniak was born on March 12, 1928, the son of Willie and Annie (Cepak) Zahirniak. He attended schools in West prior to serving his country with the United States Navy during World War II. On April 25, 1949 he was united in marriage to Dorothy Pavlas in West. Joe worked for General Tire and Rubber Company in Waco for 33 years until his retirement in 1986. After his retirement he became a dedicated funeral assistant at Aderhold Funeral Home for over fourteen years. Joe was a very accomplished accordion player and enjoyed playing for the residents at West Rest Haven and many other gatherings. He also enjoyed buying and selling tractors, collecting junk, working on and racing cars, spending time with his family and grandchildren, and especially visiting and talking with his coffee buddies at the Ole Czech Bakery. Joe was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars West Post No. 4819, K.J.T. Society #31, and the West Longhorn Club. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Connie Drews; his parents, and a sister, Willie Mae Sulak. Survivors include his beloved wife of 58 years, Dorothy Zahirniak; three sons, Edward "Zork" Zahirniak and wife Sherry, William "Bill" Zahirniak, and Charles "Chuck" Zahirniak, all of West; two daughters, Donna Adair and husband Dennis, and Mary Berger, all of West; three brothers, Ernest "Shorty" Zahirniak and wife Mona, Robert Zahirniak and wife Mary, and Willie "Bill" Zahirniak and wife Beulah, all of West; two sisters, Mary Hessel of Waco and Helen Warner and husband James of Ft. Worth; 9 grandchildren, Dylan Berger, Renee Lynch, Amber Zahirniak, Zach Zahirniak, Ronald Petter, Kimberly Epps and husband Scott, Andrea Hooker and husband Jerry, Kristie Schier, and Sherry Alligood; 12 great grandchildren, Joey Petter, Meagan, Amber, and Kimberly Hooker, Olivia Epps, Landon Edwards, Gavin and Grayson Lynch, Coy and Riley Schier, and Ashley and Ty Alligood; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Active pallbearers are Ronnie Petter, Edwin Sulak, David Zahirniak, Steve Zahirniak, Eddie Sulak, and Zach Zahirniak. Honorary pallbearers are all his coffee buddies and the staff of Aderhold Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to West Volunteer Ambulance Association or St. Mary's Parish Center.