Emil John Zahradnik

Emil John (E.J.) Zahradnik, Sr., 91, departed this life on August 28, 2016. He was born on March 27, 1925, to Edd and Ottilea Slovak Zahradnik outside of East Bernard. E. J. met the love of his life, Emilie Lepik Zahradnik, when they both attended grade school in Hungerford. During their teenage years, while living on neighboring farms, their romance blossomed. After E.J. served in the U.S. Army during World War II, they married on October 28, 1946. They worked side by side in the fields where his seven children were taught teamwork and the value of a strong work ethic. E. J. took pride in providing for his family. He did so by farming, raising livestock, selling eggs to local grocery, driving the school bus for Hungerford I.S.D, and working as a butcher at the local slaughter house. He became owner-operator of E. J.’s Place in 1967, where he entertained the community with pots of stew, wild game suppers, and domino tournaments for twenty- five years. He then worked part time at Strouhal Recapping for an additional twenty years. When no longer an employee, he continued to make frequent visits to drink coffee and catch up on the local news. Over the years, “PoPo” enjoyed watching his 33 grand/great grand children chase chickens, roll barrels, pester his hogs and play on his home made inner tube trampoline. During holiday meal prayer, EJ would look over his family and acknowledge his blessings from God. E. J was preceded in death by his wife of almost 70 years, Emilie, who passed away in May; his parents; his infant brother, Edward; and his daughter-in-law, Angie Broesche Zahradnik. He is survived by his seven children and their spouses; Betty Joyce and John Keys of Huntsville, Ed and Carol Zahradnik of Sugar Land, Jerome and Betty Zahradnik of Hungerford, Bob and Mary Zahradnik of Wharton, Michael Zahradnik of Wharton, Emil Jr. and Gaye Zahradnik of Wharton, Richie and Dawn Zahradnik of Wharton; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Lillie Talafuse of Rosenberg; and several nieces and nephews. E. J. was a member of the American Legion Post #226 of East Bernard, the Knights of Columbus Council 3262 of Wharton, the S.P.J.S.T., and St. John’s Catholic Church of Hungerford. Visitation was held on Tuesday evening, August 30, 2016 at St. John’s, followed by a rosary. A funeral mass will be held at St. John’s on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 with Rev. Charles Dwomoh officiating and burial to follow in St. John’s Cemetery in Hungerford. Pallbearers are his seven children and honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John’s Catholic Church. Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at www.whartonfuneralhome.com.