Daniel Emil Havelka age 101 passed away Thursday, October 20, 2022, at the Jefferson County Health Center.
A funeral mass and Celebration of Life will be held later.
Dan was born December 17, 1920, in Jarrell, Texas to George and Matilda (Kobza) Havelka. He married Kathryn Lowe on September 8, 1945. They separated in 1972 and she passed away March 29, 2008. Later, Dan met Mary Louise Hidalgo and they spent many, many years as dear companions. They were active members of their local Catholic parish and Dan was a Knight of Columbus.
Dan served in the US Army as a Paratrooper during WWII. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was a POW, and earned a Purple Heart. He spent 40 years working with water, measuring rivers. This took him from Texas to Hawaii to Nepal and to California being employed by the US Geological Survey and by USAID. He finished his career back in Texas as the Water Master of the Rio Grande River.
Dan will be missed by his two sons, Dale and Michael Havelka and his daughter-in-law Carol Havelka; four grandchildren, Matthew Havelka, Jessica Kozel, Matthew Quinn and Haley Hidalgo; and two great grandchildren, Daniel Glynn and Andrew Kane Havelka.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Matilda; one brother, Jerry Havelka; three sisters, Henrietta Sibley, Georgia Strmiska and Sylvia Bluhm; and his sons’ mother, Kathryn Havelka.
On-line condolences may be made to the family at behnerfh.com.
