Steve Arnold Svetlik was born on July 26, 1929 in Weimar, the fourth child of Steve Frank and Agnes Svetlik.
Upon graduating from Weimar High School, Steve enlisted in the Seabees, a division of the U.S. Navy, on Sept. 23, 1946. The story he told was he didn’t weigh enough to join the Navy; however, he was accepted into the Seabees. Steve was deployed to North Africa at the young age of 17. He saw many sights and spent his first Christmas away from home in a tent. He was honorably discharged on March 16, 1950. He then lived with his sister Van Lee in New Jer-sey for a short time where he worked at the Tom’s factory before returning to Texas.
After returning to Texas, Steve met and married Dorothy Frances Blaha. They were married in the Hostyn church on Aug. 17, 1953. After marriage, Steve and Dorothy bought a home in Weimar. Steve worked for Montgomery Electric and soon after bought the Lauterstein building and started Svetlik Electric. The business sold Carrier air-conditioning units, appliances and Steve did residential and commercial electrical work. One thing on which Steve prided himself was that a person could call him day or night and he was there to fix what needed to be fixed. Steve was always wearing his cowboy straw hat in the summer and black felt hat in the winter. He said it saved him many a time while taking the blow of a low doorway or porch. In later years, he could be spotted on occasion on top of Hill Bank overseeing work being done on the AC unit or using the high sidewalk by the Weimar Museum to load an AC unit onto his truck. After opening Svetlik Electric, Steve and Dorothy opened two more businesses in Weimar – CASS car wash and Sparkle Clean Ice Co.
Steve was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Weimar Volunteer Fire Department, the Heritage Society Museum of Weimar and Brothers of the Brush.
When it came to celebrating Steve’s birthday, he always insisted on having his party before his actual birthday – he said “just in case I’m not around on the actual date.” His birthdays were celebrated at Tofel’s in Ammannsville and the Weimar Tavern, where good times were had by all. Steve also looked forward every year to Msgr. John Peters family reunion at the Peters farm in Weimar. It is believed he attended every reunion.
Steve passed peacefully on Wednesday, May 18 2022 after a brief illness which kept him from zipping around at break-neck speed. In true fashion, he was here one minute and down the road the next.
Funeral services were set for Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Weimar, with rosary at 9:30 a.m. and Mass at 10 a.m. followed by burial in the Hostyn cemetery. Named as pallbearers are Tracy Baumgarten, Jason Strilzuk, George Tofel, Chad Kloesel, Ervin Kutac and Ed Kruppa. Honorary pallbearers include Charles “Buck” Bittner, David Vornsand, Marvin “Jake” Cernoch and members of the Brothers of the Brush.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Steve F. and Agnes Svetlik; two sisters, Van Lee (Tom) Rooney and Dorothy (Carl) Christian; and one brother, Edgar “Buddy” (Rosemary) Svetlik.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; daughter, Paula Svetlik Wicke and special friend Tracy Baumgarten; son, Craig Svetlik and wife Debbie; granddaughter, Kaila Svetlik and fiancé Jason Strilzuk; and granddaughter, Lauren Svetlik.
One of the last things Steve said was: “If I’m here I’m here, if I’m gone I’m gone … don’t be sad.”