historical society member
dolores sochor, musician
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After playing piano at the Table Rock United Methodist Church for 38 years, Dolores Sochor has retired. “I didn’t want to stop,” she says, “but health reasons have kept me from doing what I love.” On August 7, 2016, the church held a big party for her. The basement hall was packed. Included in the crowd were children Dave and Diane and their families. There was a luncheon of many of the usual tasty homemade specialties, including meatballs, corn casserole, Jell-O desserts, and cakes. A ceremony followed. George Tomek presented her with a plaque and a gift of money from the congregation. “You have been a faithful musician for the church for 38 years,” he said. “We appreciate it.” “And I appreciate this so much,” Dolores said about the plaque. “I have enjoyed doing it and I’d like to continue, but am unable to.” |
Dolores shows a cake made for the party. "It's heavy!" she exclaimed when she was able to sit it back down after posing for numerous pictures.
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Dolores has trouble in large part because of her hearing aid; it works for voices but distorts music badly; even music that she herself plays sounds wrong.
It is a hard time for someone whose life has been full of music.
Dolores says that her history with church music goes way back. “When I was in third grade,” she says, “my sister Donna and I began singing at funerals. The teachers would excuse us from class and my mother would pick us up to take us to the funeral.”
However, singing wasn’t the first thing she did. “When I was about five, Santa brought my sister and I accordions,” she said. “We learned to play. That’s where I got my start in music.” Her dad Edd Karas played accordion as did her grandpa Frank Karas; those two went way back – Edd was born in 1899, Frank in 1877.
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It is a hard time for someone whose life has been full of music.
Dolores says that her history with church music goes way back. “When I was in third grade,” she says, “my sister Donna and I began singing at funerals. The teachers would excuse us from class and my mother would pick us up to take us to the funeral.”
However, singing wasn’t the first thing she did. “When I was about five, Santa brought my sister and I accordions,” she said. “We learned to play. That’s where I got my start in music.” Her dad Edd Karas played accordion as did her grandpa Frank Karas; those two went way back – Edd was born in 1899, Frank in 1877.
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Circa 1898, a Bohemian band with Dolores's grandpa Frank Karas in it (#7). Photo 928. The full band: 1 – Frank Blecha, 2 – Pete Blecha, 3 – Martin Karas, 4 – Joe Blaker, 5 – Frank Tenk, 6 – Frank Karas, 7 – Bowman Karas, 8 – Rudolph Blaker, 9- Ed Tank, 10 – Ludvik Eicha, Leader.
Dolors (front left) with her grandpa Frank Karas, father Edd Karas, and sister Donna Karas Nemecek.
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Dolores played drums in the school band beginning in the 6th grade. At the same time she began playing drums in dance bands. She played in a ZCBJ band. “Every ZCBJ lodge had a band that played on Saturday night,” her husband Joe said. She played with the Frank Tomek Band and the Steve Stasney Orchestra. Both were very well known bands in this part of the country. “That’s how we got together,” Dolores says, referring to Joe. They didn’t know each other before. Joe went to a country school and Dolores went to school in town. “Playing in bands, that’s how we got together,” Dolores says. Joe played bass horn. After the dance, it took longer for them to pack up their instruments so they had time to talk. “Those other guys would throw their instruments in a case and off they’d go,” Joe says. “It takes a little longer to pack up a bass horn and drums.” After Joe and Dolores got married, she started playing piano and singing in the bands. It has been a long life of music, and she misses it. |
Dolores receives a card of appreciation
The Sochor Clan
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Dolores in 2015 with Finnish photojournalist Markus Jokela. He was taking pictures for a book on Table Rock. He had asked to see her accordion. She got it out of the box but it was too heavy to play now. Still, she was able to pose with it.
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Dolores and Joe at the 2015 Historical Society banquet. Both are charter members.
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