Joseph H. Pete Nemecek

Joseph H. "Pete" Nemecek, age 87 of Corpus Christi, formerly of West passed away late Monday morning, July 2, 2007 at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. A rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated 2:00 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant. Military Graveside Rites will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery conducted by West V.F.W. Post No. 4819. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Mr. Nemecek was born March 30, 1920 in West, the son of Rudolph and Ludmila (Smajstrla) Nemecek. He attended St. Mary's School in West, the Allen Academy in Bryan, and received his high school diploma from Santa Ana High School in California. He served his country with the United States Army Air Corp during World War II. On December 13, 1947 he was united in marriage to Lera Saylors in Abbott. She preceded him in death on March 30, 2003. Pete was an aviation mechanic for many years at the Naval Base in Corpus Christi before his retirement. He was a member of St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church also Corpus Christi. Pete especially enjoyed playing the saxophone; he played with Bubba And the Boys at Panjo's Pizza in Corpus for over 30 years as well as some polka bands in the early days. He was a member of the American Sokol, S.P.J.S.T. Lodge No. 79 in Corpus, and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4819 in West. Pete is also preceded in death by his parents and four sisters, Mamie Archer Urbanovsky, Rudie Grimm, Georgia Cocek, and Hattie Piehl. Survivors include one brother, Alfred "Fritz" Nemecek and his wife Virginia of Pflugerville; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Parish Center or the Sokol Hall, 5502 Kostohryz, Corpus Christi, TX 78415.