Vaclav ("V.J.") John Hajda

Vaclav John (V.J.) Hajda, 94, of Taylor and formerly of Granger, passed on to his Heavenly Father on June 20, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and Rosary at 7:00 P.M. Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Providence Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held 2:00 P.M. Friday, June 23, at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Granger with the Reverend Isidore Ndagizimana and Reverend Hilario Guajardo officiating. Burial was at the Calvary Cemetery.

V.J. was born on April 22, 1923 and was one of six children born to Louis and Rosie (Nemec) Hajda. V.J. grew up on a farm west of Granger where his parents instilled a deep faith in God and love of farming. When asked why he chose to be a farmer, V.J. said he loved working the land and watching plants grow from the time the seeds sprouted until their maturity. He and his wife, Margie, worked hard side by side to keep the land they farmed free of weeds in order to ensure that with God’s help the crops would be bountiful enough to support their family.

V.J. proudly served his country as an infantry marksman in World War II under General George Patton. During his service from August 26, 1943 until January 10, 1946, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Two Bronze Campaign Stars, European African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Victory Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon, and Good Conduct Ribbon. During his active military service he was given the nickname “Tex.” He said when it was time for mail calls it was common knowledge that “Tex” would have several letters from home because his sweetheart, Margie Kurtin, wrote him a letter every day while he was gone. After his honorable discharge, V.J. returned to Granger and married his Margie on February 26, 1946.
V.J. and Margie shared 65 precious years on their farm raising their four children. The arrival of grand children and great grandchildren brought them so much joy. Each grandchild and great grandchild was cherished by Margie and V.J. in a special way that created an eternal bond of love with them.

He was a lifetime member of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church. He was also a member of the Granger Knights of Columbus, serving as Treasurer and as a Trustee, the KJT, the SSCM Czech Choir in the early 1960’s and 1970’s, the SSCM Senior Choir. He also served as a Director of the Granger Blackland Coop Gin.

After the death of his wife Margie, he joined his sister, Marie Repa, and cousin, Albert Hajda at the SPJST Assisted Living facility in Taylor, Texas. There he embraced the next phase of his life, made new friends, enjoyed riding his scooter, gardening, listening to Czech music, playing dominoes, bean bag baseball, bingo, and tarocks, caring for his flowers, and spending afternoons with fellow domino players at the SPJST Assisted Living. In recent weeks he learned to play Crazy 8’s and enjoyed teaching this game to his family and friends. When he wasn’t tinkering with his radio, TV, and DVD player to ensure he got the best reception possible, he kept busy with his hands finding innovative ways to make his apartment comfortable and convenient for his needs. If he had been born 50 years later than he was, we feel he would have been an engineer with many patents to his name.

V.J. was preceded in death by his wife, Margie (Kurtin) Hajda, parents, Louis and Rosie (Nemec) Hajda, his sisters, Angeline Repa, Marie Repa, and Agnes Bohac, and granddaughter, Deborah Rose Hajda. He is survived by his four children, Wesley Hajda, Jr. and wife Henrietta, Theresa Hajda and Jerry David, Michael Hajda and wife Sally Hajda, and Anne Shirocky and husband, Alan. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren, David and Deborah Hajda and children, Colby, Callen, Caige, Cash, and Colt, Julia and Tyler Klotz, Michael and Danielle Hajda and children, Zyton, Sydney, and Nixon, Sarah and Harrison Druesedow, Matthew and Kody Hajda and children Maize and Missy, Alana and David Tomczyszyn and son Conley, and Andrea Shirocky and fiancé Mitch McDermott. He is also survived by his sister, Martha Cervenka, his brother, Louis Hajda Jr. and wife Loretta, sisters-in-law Agnes Kurtin and Lydia Kurtin, numerous nieces and nephews.

Words cannot express the gratitude we have for the exceptional care, love, and support that the staff of the SPJST Assisted Living facility provided to our father. We also extend our sincere thanks to the SPJST Assisted Living residents who made him feel so much at home during his stay with them. We thank Reverend Jairo Sandoval for answering V.J.’s request several years ago to celebrate Mass every month at the SPJST Assisted Living and we also thank the Eucharistic Ministers for their weekly visits.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Mass intentions for V.J., Honor Flight Austin, or your favorite charity.