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Submitted: 4/4/19 • Approved: 4/7/19 • Last Updated: 4/10/19 • R1263054-G1263052-S3
Vaclav
May 6, 1923 - August 25, 2018
*Obituary
Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Monday, August 27, 2018
ROGERS — Vaclav K. Michalek, 95, of Rogers passed away August 25, 2018 in Bentonville. Vaclav Michalek
lived a long fantastic life. He was born May 6, 1923 in Bela Pod Bezclem, Czech Republic, the son of Vaclav Michalek and Maria Michalek. His journey took him from his home country of the Czech Republic to Germany during the war, where he was forced labor. After the war, he went home to Czechoslovakia, only to escape to Germany, the night before an election that voted in the communist candidate. That decision caused him to be a displaced person, and he was shuffled, with many other people to Italy. After 18 months in an Italian DP camp, he made the decision to immigrate to Australia. He lived there 7 years and worked for an auto manufacturer and a large ranch in the northern territory. During this time, he learned to fly and became part of the Royal Air Force. In the late 50s he came to the United States where he found work in Chicago with an electrical company. He became a citizen, met his wife, Nancy on a blind date, and eventually had a daughter. The three of them lived in Illinois until he retired to Rogers, Arkansas in 1988. Val always worked on the yard and loved building garden walls and planters, out of native stone. In 2010, he was honored by his hometown in the Czech Republic and given the key to the city, at a ceremony that he attended. Anyone, who knew and visited my father was shown the key and heard the story of that event.
Val or Jim as many of his friends called him will be dearly missed, not only by his family but friends and everyone that knew him. He was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Rogers, a generous person, and a great storyteller. Through all the trials and tribulations, he experienced, throughout his life, he never lost his faith or sense of humor.
Cheerio dad, we will miss you!
He is preceded in death by his wife Nancy Mae Michalek and two siblings Joseph Michalek and Ida Trojan.
He is survived by his daughter Maria Akehurst and husband Jon of Rogers; two grandchildren; Clayton and Hannah.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 30, 2018, from 9 to 10 a.m. and a funeral mass following at 10 an at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Private interment at St. Vincent Cemetery, Avoca.
Arrangements by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers. Online condolences to www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.
Nancy
January 16, 1940 - April 29, 2004
*Obituary
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
Sunday, May 2, 2004
ROGERS - Nancy Mae Eustich Michalek, 64, of Rogers, died Thursday, April 29, 2004, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rogers. She was born Jan. 16, 1940, in Chicago, Ill., to Walter Eustich and Silvia Ann Kriz Eustich.
She was a legal secretary for many years and she volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic, where she was also a parishioner and was in the Senior Choir and cantor. She also worked for the March of Dimes in the 1980's.
Survivors include her husband, Vaclav Michalek of the home: a daughter and son-in-law, Maria Akehurst and Jon of Rogers; a soon to be grandson; a sister, Karen Schmitt of Chicago, Ill.; an aunt, Dorthe Kriz of Chicago, Ill.; many nieces, nephews and a grandnephew.
Nancy Michalek was a wonderful mother, wife, niece and friend. She love baking cookies at Christmas and lunch cakes for Easter. She cooked various Czech/German dishes and desserts, not to mention food in general. She also kept the local priest and sisters of St Vincent de Paul Church and St. Stephens Church in constant supply of delicious baked goods. Nancy also was very excited and anticipated the imminent birth of her first grandchild. Seeing and holding her first grandchild was her driving force to stay well despite all of her health battles over the past year. She was a very talented and creative person who enjoyed writing limericks, poems and drawing. She also was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed making clothing until her arthritis would not allow her to continue. She also has a great love of animals and enjoyed her schnauzers.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 3, 2004, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Rogers with Monsignor Richard Oswald officiating. Burial will follow in St. Vincent Cemetery in Rogers.
Visitation is set for today, May 2, 2004, at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers.
Contributed on 4/4/19 by wfields55
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Record #: 1263054