Raymond L. Jaska

Raymond L. Jaska, age 73, of Ross, passed away early Friday morning, January 20, 2017 at West Rest Haven in West. A rosary will be recited 3:00 p.m. Sunday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, followed by visitation until 5:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 23, 2017 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Paul Hudson and Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrants. Burial will follow at Fatima Cemetery near Abbott. Raymond was born August 5, 1943 in Ross, the oldest son of Louis and Frances (Bezdek) Jaska. He attended Ross School, graduated from West High School in 1961, Temple Junior College in 1964, and attended Arlington State College. While in college, besides doing farm work on the weekends and in summers, he learned land surveying for the ASC office, worked for Scott & White in Temple, managed a Phillips 66 gas station in Dallas and worked at his parents' Ross Cash Store. On October 4, 1969, he was united in marriage to Theresa Josephine Pustejovsky daughter of Emil and Bessie Pustejovsky of Abbott. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1967, completing his basic training in Ft. Lewis, Washington until he was honorably discharged in 1973. He worked as a surveyor for WF Soules and Associates until he joined the Waco Fire Department. He considered his fellow firefighters as family for over 30 years until his retirement in 2003 as a lieutenant. He was a farmer and rancher while also doing custom hay baling and harvesting for other farmers from south Waco to north of Abbott. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, Knights of Columbus Council #2305, Professional Firefighter Association and the Ross Volunteer Fire Department. Raymond loved living in the rural area where he hunted, fished, and raised cattle. He was especially proud and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Raymond is preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law; a sister, Mary Frances Jaska; and brothers-in-law, Larry Richards and Frankie Marak. Survivors include his beloved wife of 47 years, Theresa Jaska of Ross; his children, Jennifer Cooper, Ray Jaska Jr. and his wife Amanda, John Jaska and his wife Jamie, Joe Jaska and his wife Becky; a brother, Pat Jaska; his sisters, Barbara Langham and her husband Wayne, Fran Richards, Helen Boyse and her husband Darren, and Bernadette Jaska; grandchildren, Zane, Reid, Ethan, Lola, Gus, Jaxon, Jadyn, Kyle, Connor and Carson; in-laws Matt and Lillian Filer, Agnes Marak, Kenneth and Bernice Beene, Eugene and Kathy Pustejovsky, Junior and Frances Pustejovsky; former son-in-law, Kris Cooper; God children, Jodi Lednicky, Ethan Filer and Nick Jaska; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Phil Pustejovsky, Ronnie Marak, Zane Cooper, Reid Cooper, Trevor Richards, Ethan Gonzales, Jimmy Jaska and Nick Jaska. Honorary pallbearers are Danny Brodbeck, Billy Sparks, Tim Jaska, Jim Jaska, Rick Jaska, and all current and retired Waco Firefighters. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's School Endowment Fund or St. Mary's School Wish List.