VONDRASEK
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To start, here is a brief overview of family relationships: James Vondrasek (1853 - 1930) and Jane Strejc Vondrasek (1859-1930) came here from Chicago in 1890. They had eight children, four of whom died in infancy and these: Emma Vondrasek Goodenkauf (1882-1967), Otto Vondrasek (1884-1963)(wife Frances Sibl), and Jesse (Jess) Vondrasek (1886-1982)(wife Mary Tomek), and William (Bill) Vondrasek (1896-1966)(wife Helen Hruska). (JANE & HER CHILDREN ARE ABOVE, in excerpts of pictures below.)
Emma had children Frank & Arley Goodenkauf. Otto and his wife Frances had one child, Lorraine. Jesse had children Irma Vondrasek Gilbert (1920-2000), Jesse (died as an infant), and Bob (1923 - 2009). William and his wife Helen had one child, Arlene, married a Holecek.
The Historical Society has no photograph of James Vondrasek.
Emma had children Frank & Arley Goodenkauf. Otto and his wife Frances had one child, Lorraine. Jesse had children Irma Vondrasek Gilbert (1920-2000), Jesse (died as an infant), and Bob (1923 - 2009). William and his wife Helen had one child, Arlene, married a Holecek.
The Historical Society has no photograph of James Vondrasek.
1900
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Jane Strejc Vondrasek (mother of Bill, Otto, Jess, and Emma) is in the back row, far left, in hit photo of her parents -- Antonin and Josefa Strejc, and her siblings Frank, Joseph, Anthony, and (? the other sister). Photo 635. Jane was born in 1859. How old is she here? Perhaps 35-40? If so, then this photo is circa 1894-1900.
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Jess Vondrasek is second from the left. Photo 29
John Tomek, Jess Vondrasek, Joe and Rudy Wopata. Photo 29.
Klub Komensky (a Czech club), Photo 211, has siblings Emma Vondrasek Goodenkauf (back row, 4th from left), Otto Vondrasek (front row, 2nd from left), and Jess Vondrasek (front row 6th from left). It also has Mary Tomek Vondrasek (who married Jess).(back row, 8th from left).
Back row: Caroline Strejc Marshall, Ida Foale Vrtiska, Vincie Foale Kalina, Emma Vondrasek Goodenkauf, Minnie Strejc Dolby, Helen Petrasek Tomek, Josie Kovanda Kune, Mary Tomek Vondrasek, Mary E Petrasek Kovanda, Mary M Petrasek Wopata, Julia Strejc Brewer. FRONT ROW: Rudolph Vrtiska, Otto Vondrasek, Joseph Wopata, Joe C Tomek, Chas Rabstejnek, Jess Vondrasek, Joe Tomek, Fred Blaker, Arnold Petrasek, Emil Rabstejnek, Joe Karas, Ed Wopata, John Tomek, Phil Rabstejnek, Rudolph Wopata
The nineteen "teens"
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August 17, 1911, a little social mention. Siblings Emma, Otto, and Jess were visitors at the Nick (and Marie) Goodenkauf home. Emma would marry Nick & Marie's son Frank three years later. And a little article after that about Strejc's, perhaps their mother's relatives, perhaps their Uncle Anthony as labeled above....?is
Along on the social call was Josie Kovanda. Here is a gorgeous photograph of Emma Vondrasek with Josie, undated, but perhaps of this era as well. It is Photo 228. Emma was born in 1882 and married in 1914 (age 32), so this photograph is likely from the Nineteen Teens.. |
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1914 wedding portrait of Edward Clark & Marguerite Deubelbeiss. Photo 7715, shared by Roger Vondrasek
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Edward & Marguerite in later years. Photo 7716, shared by Roger Vondrasek.
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Jess & Otto Vondrasek were in this Czech band. Jess is in the front row, third from the left, Otto is in the back row, far right. Photo 177, circa 1915.
Photo 177, Czech band in front of Moto-Dome about 1915. Names are crossed out, and redone, apparently there was a discussion about who was who. Front row: Joe Tomek, Frank Tomek, Jess Vondrasek, Emil Rabstejnek, Arnold Petrasek, Earl Irwin, and, with the drum, Chester Fisher. Back row: John Tomek (one comment says Fred), Tom Krofta (one comment says Rudy Kalina but it is Tom Krofta), Art Krofta, Charles Rabstejnek, Ralph Cotton, Charles Klaine, Otto Vondrasek.
"William Vondrasek, drugstore clerk," Photo 899:
A few excerpts of Photo 899 for fun:
Photo 430, Jess Vondrasek and a young lady, is undated.
Photo 43 has Otto Vondrasek in it. It is undated. Otto was born in 1884. If he was 30 in this photo, it would be circa 1914; at 35 it would be circa 1919; at 40, circa 1920.
the 1920s
The 1920 wedding portrait of Jesse Vondrasek and Mary Tomek. Photo 7720, shared by Roger Vondrasek.
Jesse & Mary Vondrasek's children Bob and Irma. Another child, Jesse, Jr., was born between them and died as an infant.
Siblings Bob and Irma Vondrasek (1923-2009 & 1920-2000, respectively). Photo 7712, shared by Roger Vondrasek.
Below, Bill & Helen Vondrasek's Cafe, 1927-1930, second door east of the library (currently Sharla Sitzman's office). Photo 103.
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For fun! Excerpts of Photo 103:
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The 1929 High School Band, William Vondrasek was the drum major that helped lead them to the championship:
1930s
Mary & Jesse Vondrasek with children Bob & Irma. Photo 7719, shared by Roger Vondrasek.
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September 1930, obituary of James Vondrasek, Bill's father. According to the obituary, he brought his family to Table Rock from Chicago in 1890. "He loved music, taught band music, and played with and directed a number of bands."
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Last day of school picnic for the country school of District 51. There are four Vondraseks here. Jess Vondrasek is second from left (face in shadows) and his wife Mary 5th from the left. Of the children, the two boys to the far right are Lorraine and Jess Vondrasek. This is Photo 533; it is undated, but Bob Vondrasek, was born in 1923 and is a small boy of perhaps six to eight.
Photo 533: “Last day of school picnic, District #51. Standing from left
1. Mrs. Tom Kubicek
2. Jess Vondrasek
3. Mrs. Frank (Mattie) Fencl
4. ____________
5. Mrs. Jess (Mary) Vondrasek
6. Mrs. Rudolph (Minnie) Klapka
7. Fannie or Mary Kozak [Tim Kozak, Charlie’s great grandson, says that Charlie had a sister Fannie)
8._____
9. Mrs. Clyde (Lily) Hunzeker
10. Mrs Charles (Laura) Weddifield
11. _______
12. _______
13. Mrs. Edd (Mary) Hunzeker
14. Mrs. Peter (Antonie) Jasa
15. Nettie Karas
16. Mrs. Joe (Bessie) Karas
17. Elsie Fencl
18. Charles Weddefield
19. Edd Hunzeker
20. Charlie Kozak
21. James Kubicek
22. Frank Hruska, Sr.
“Kids:
Rudy Klapka, Jl; Elmer Klapka; Joey Karas; Clyde Hunzeker, Jr; Howard Widdefield; Hubert Hunzeker; Ray Hruska; Alma Fencl; Irma Vondrasek; _______; Lorraine Vondrasek; Bobby Vondrasek.
1940s
Front row: Edward & Marguerite Deubelbeiss Clark with children Lee; back row: children: Darlene, Gladys, John, and Marguerite. Gladys Clark would eventually marry Bob Vondrasek. Photo 7717, shared by Roger Vondrasek,.
Roger Vondrasek shared a little story with this picture, about his uncle Johnny Clark (back row, 3rd from left):
Everyone looks at Uncle Johnny''s hair. Man, he's really styling! His hair was more fluffed up than usual because he was holding little Gary Herrick just before the picture was taken. Gary messed up Uncle Johnny's hair. Gary was his hair stylist!"
Darlene Clark & Kenneth Gilbert wedding picture, Photo 7714, shared by Roger Vondrasek
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Lee Clark & Doris Benson wedding portrait. Photo 7714, shared by Roger Vondrasek
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Loraine Vondrasek by Arvid Blecha, early 1940s Photo 2323.
Bob Blecha at the Table Rock fair, circa 1941. Photo 2337 by ARvid Blecha.
Alvin Kent, Delores Boston, Hazel Walter, Rudy Klapka, and BOB VONDRASEK, by Arvid Blecha, Circa 1940-1942
1950S
On a Table Rock Booster's trip to Johnson circa 1955, photo by Edward Tomek. Photo 1062.
December 15, 1955: Bob Vondrasek climbs 67-foot television antenna tower to string colored electric lights at Christmas time:
July 4, 1957, Bob Vondrasek's 10th wedding anniversary
September 12, 1957, William Vondrasek & Harry Madden attend reunion of the 355th Infantry of World War I.
1957, the last steam threshing machine harvest in the county. Bob & his dad Jess Vondrasek are second and third from the left. Photo 109.
Jim Kotalik, Bob and Jess Vondrasek, Dale Goodenkauf, John Kotalik, Ron Gilbert, Norman Marfice, John Duder.
1960s
Linda Vondrasek Pearson, Bob Vondrasek's daughter, in 10th grade, 1963-64 school year. Photo 780:
Bobette Vondrasek, Linda's little sister, in first grade: Photo 69, excerpted from a class picture for the 1963-1964 school year.
1970S
1978 - Vondrasek-Bohling wedding
1979 - Jess Vondrasek turns 93.
