JaNell Vacek Kahlden

JaNell Vacek Kahlden was born in Schulenburg on Dec. 15, 1930 to Hilda and Adolph Vacek. She passed away on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Weimar.

She attended schools in Schulenburg, Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas. She graduated with high honors in 1948 from Sunset High School in Dallas. She was employed by the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas, then worked at a newspaper office, an insurance company and a trucking company.

On Aug. 24, 1953, she married Elliott (Joe) Kahlden at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Schulenburg. They lived in Weimar approximately two years before moving to Texas City in 1956. In Texas City, she was employed by Reed and Clements, Architects and then Texas City Refining Inc. until her retirement in 1988. JaNell loved to read, work crossword puzzles, dance, sew, play cards, travel, go camping, and cook. Her grandchildren thought she was the best cook ever and whenever she invited them to dinner, they cancelled all other plans in order to go to her house and partake of the delicious food. When her sons were in college, they could hardly wait to get home because they knew she was going to have something good prepared for them. Even when Joe worked the evening shift, JaNell always prepared a hot meal for her children every night. Her specialties were turkey, dressing, lasagna, spaghetti, fried chicken, potato salad, meat loaf, and beef noodle soup.

At Christmas time she bought Christmas gifts for other needy children and even decorated Christmas stockings for them. JaNell made quilts for all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She liked embroidery and her mother taught her how when she was a little girl.

JaNell was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Texas City where she was a lector for many years and also a member of St. Thomas Altar Group. She currently was a member of the St. Michael Church in Weimar. She was also a charter member of the VFW Auxiliary in Weimar since 1956, and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America Court No. 559.

She is survived by her loving husband of over 65 years; her sons, Glen and wife Sharyn of Cypress, Dale and wife Sherry of Memphis, Tennessee, and Bob of Hitchcock; daughter, Jan and husband Bobby Cash of Rosharon; grandsons, Joshua Cash and wife Tracy of Santa Fe, Ryan Cash of Rosharon, Eric Cash and wife Katie of Iowa Colony, Zachary Cash of Santa Fe, and Joseph and John Kahlden of Memphis, Tennessee; granddaughters Kristi West and husband Marty of Fort Worth, and Alyssa Cash of Rosharon; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Kinsley Cash of Santa Fe, Sophia and Mason Cash of Friendswood, Jaxson and Mason West of Fort Worth, Jayce Cash of Santa Fe, and Tallon Cash of Iowa Colony; three sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Weimar, on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 at 11 a.m., followed by the rosary and funeral Mass. Burial will be in the St. Michael Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her six grandsons: Joshua, Ryan, Eric and Zachary Cash; and Joseph and John Kahlden. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Cash and Kenneth Guenther.

Memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, the Weimar VFW, or a charity of choice.

JaNell was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; her sister, Lois Brauner; and brothers-in-law, Royce Brauner, John Guenther, Nolan Ulbricht and Franklin Kahlden.