Calvin Janak, Sr. was born and lived in Granger, Texas where he married Lillie Mae Kovar in 1950. They moved to College Station, Texas and while Calvin earned a degree in physical education from Texas A&M University, Lillie worked as a bookkeeper and secretary for the university. The couple also managed the university's outdoor movie theater and program sales for Aggie football games. This teamwork was the hallmark of their lives together.
Calvin farmed while beginning a teaching and coaching career in Thorndale and Thrall, where he is still known by many graduates as 'coach'. In 1958 Calvin and Lillie risked it all building a grain elevator and starting the successful Thrall-Tex Grain. By 1962 the grain business became their lifetime endeavor. Later Calvin and Lillie owned Wilcox-Elliot Grain in Taylor for a career of more than 30 years in the grain business and Calvin served as a state director of Texas Feed and Grain as well as an organizer for the annual Stiles Farm Field Day. He was also a rancher and farmer as well as a partner with Calvin, Jr in C & C Construction which continues today.
Dedicated to the growth of Taylor and its citizens, Calvin was elected mayor and member of the city council for 16 years, twice servicing as interim city manager. He was especially proud of his efforts to increase the salaries of Taylor's Police and Firemen. Calvin served as general superintendent of all 30 years of the Taylor Livestock Show and headed the buyers committee to purchase livestock show winners.
The Taylor Chamber of Commerce voted Calvin citizen of the year. His distinguished community service included board member of the Williamson County Child Welfare, director of the Brushy Creek Watershed and board member of the John's Community Hospital. Calvin was honored for his contributions to Taylor's Education Enrichment in 1985 and was member of Taylor's Junior Chamber of Commerce and the annual Taylor Rodeo trail ride committee. A member of Taylor's Kiwanis Club, Calvin and others would be asked to sing before the group and were known as the 'Flat Tones'.
Calvin was a Fourth Degree and Council Grand Knight of the local order of the Knights of Columbus, a global fraternal service organization founded in 1882 as a mutual benefit society for working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States. He initiated the St. Mary's Catholic School Trust Fund and was its chairman. For 25 years he was sexton of the Church's cemetery. Calvin supervised the renovation of the St. Mary's School original red brick building and initiated the effort to renovate the school's Early Learning Center building.
Calvin is now with Christ and his beloved wife Lillie along with parents Frank and Julia and brothers Frank and Clarence. He is survived by son Calvin, Jr. and wife Constance; daughter Peggy Kuhl and husband Doug; grandsons Calvin T. Janak III (Trey) and wife Sarah, Kelly Kuhl and wife Candace, and Kody Kuhl and wife Renee; granddaughters Julie Rohan and husband Rusty, Mallory Stover and husband Luke, and Katelyn Kuhl; and great-grandchildren: Adelynn, Flint and Cole Janak; Kaden and Caroline Kuhl; Sara and Kenzie Kuhl; Madison and Colton Jack Rohan; and Luke Stover, Jr. (LJ).
Visitation will be held at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Providence Funeral Home, with rosary recited at 7:00 pm. Celebration of Life Mass will be held at 2:00 pm at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Friday, January 10, 2020. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the St. Mary's School Trust Fund.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Providence Funeral Home
Friday, January 10, 2020
Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Visits: 2
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors