John Joseph Marek, Sr.

John Joseph Marek, Sr., age 91, passed away early Tuesday afternoon, December 1, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. A rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016 at St. Marys Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with the Rev. Paul Hudson as celebrant. Military Graveside Rites will follow at St. Marys Cemetery, conducted by the West Veterans Honor Guard. Mr. Marek was born March 11, 1924 in the town of West. He was the only son of John Thomas and Annie (Jezek) Marek. His father was a farmer, and his mother Annie was a nurse at the Providence Sanatorium in Waco during World War I. After his mother died in 1934, young John spent several years living with his maternal aunts and their families, including Adolph and Maggie (Jezek) Muska and their three children, whose home was located across the street from St. Marys Church in West. John and his cousin, Adolph Muska, remained close friends throughout their lives. John was deeply grateful to his extended families for their generosity and love. Johns father remarried in 1937 to Marcita Miller of Waco, and John was blessed with two siblings, his brother Thomas Lee and sister Claire Mae. In 1942, John was attending Tarleton Agricultural College (now part of the Texas A&M system) when he was drafted to serve in World War II. He was a Corporal in the 37th Division of Ohio, and was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines. He and his fellow troops marched 125 miles across Luzon, Philippines, to liberate Manila. He received the Bronze Star, the 4th highest military award for heroic service; and three Purple Hearts: two during the Battle for Manila, and the third when securing Mount Pacawagan. After the war, John met the love of his life, Lillian Lois Hoyer in Waco where he attended Baylor University and Lillian served in the Nursing Corps at Providence Hospital. They married in August of 1951. John received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Texas. He worked as a geologist for Cities Services Oil Company before joining the financial services firm of RBC Dain Rauscher in San Antonio, where he worked until his retirement as Sr. Vice President at the age of 89. John, Lillian, and their four children shared a lifetime of good memories. John enjoyed golf, fishing, travel, his family and his church. He was kind and generous, had a fun sense of humor, and was a great optimist. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. John was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Lee Marek and by his grandson, Kaleb Marek. Survivors include his beloved wife of 64 years, Lillian Lois Marek of San Antonio; his daughters, Annemarie Marek, Juliana Marek and her husband James Hill, and Rosemary Howard and her husband William Clarke Howard; and his son, John Joseph Marek and his wife Zdenka Erceg; his sister, Claire Mae ODowd and her husband Gary O'Dowd, who authored an extensive memoir of Johns life and WWII experiences; his sister-in-law, Shila Marek; his five grandchildren, Cameron, Christian, Catherine and Rebecca Howard and Siena Rose Marek; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Church, 8500 Cross Mountain Trail, San Antonio, TX 78255 or to the Salvation Army, which rescued and treated him when he was wounded in the Philippines.