Margarette Pratka

Margarette Pratka, age 90, of Penelope, passed away early Thursday morning, February 5, 2009 at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. A rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated 10:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery near Penelope. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Mrs. Pratka was born July 19, 1918 in Hubbard, the daughter of Frank and Veronica (Kolacek) Novak. She attended the Griffin School near Mt. Calm. On October 27, 1941 she was united in marriage to Ike Pratka in Penelope. He preceded her in death on November 16, 1987. They lived in West from 1941 to 1945 and in Hubbard from 1945 to 1958 before settling in Penelope. Margarette was a professional seamstress having worked for Kreditor's Mfg. in Hubbard and Lorch Mfg. and Wolf Mfg. in West. She also worked for the Birome Gin, the Penelope Co-op Gin & Farm Store, the Farmers Co-op Gin in Malone, and Kolacek's Kolache Kitchen in West before retiring in 2004. She was a member of the Church of the Nativity, B.V.M. in Penelope, where she sang in the church choir. She was also a member of the K.J.Z.T. Society No. 35 in Penelope, where she formerly served as president and treasurer. Margarette enjoyed playing dominoes, Taroky, sewing, baking kolaches, watching baseball, gardening, and she especially loved spending time with her family. Her parents; four sisters, Mary Kessler, Annie Andrle, Frances Cepica and Christine Zimmerhanzel; a brother, John Novak; three grandchildren, Payton Campbell, Payge Campbell, and Jaydon Campbell also preceded her in death. Survivors include four sons, Alton Pratka and wife Judy of Leroy, Calvin Pratka and wife Erline of Waco, Thomas Pratka and wife Cheryl of Leroy, Ike B. Pratka and wife Colleen of Lacy Lakeview; one daughter, Patricia Jackson of Penelope; one sister Elsie Vrba of West; eleven grandchildren, David Pratka and wife Jana, Candice Pavelka and husband Richard, Stacy Allen and husband Dana, Sarah Ledbetter and husband John, Marla Cowan and husband Reed, James T. Pratka and wife Misty, Cody Pratka and Maggie, Clinton Pratka and wife Kacie, Kyle Pratka, Crystal Martin, Heather Norwood and husband Jeremy; 15 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Malcolm Svacina, Bernie Svacina, Clarence Janek, Clyde Vrba, Butch Manske, Dan Andrle and Charlie Klanika. Honorary pallbearers are Reed Cowan, J. T. Pratka, Cody Pratka, Clint Pratka, Kyle Pratka, David Pratka, Dana Allen, John Ledbetter, Jeremy Norwood and Richard Pavelka. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Penelope Volunteer Fire Department.