Dad always planned to move to El Campo after he retired to the point he got a subscription to the El Campo Leader News. 
The cost of land in that area eventually changed his mind. 
Well in August of 2023 their remains (ashes) were buried in the Garden of Memories Cemetary just outside of El Campo.
May God Bless their Souls. Rest in Peace!

This time of year Dad would be getting the garden ready for spring crop. We all know that potatoes need to be in the ground between president Lincoln's and president Washington's birthday's in February. 
When we were young the whole family would be involved on a Saturday.

I remember when my mom had to go to work and I had to get ready for school at granny and grandpas. Do my hair, put my contacts in etc.. Once I was ready it was time to head to school, but the catch was we were taking grandpas old blue truck with lawnmowers in the back. Dropped granny off to start mowing while grandpa took me to school. As we get there I made him stop 100 yards from everyone else because I didn’t want them to see me get out of that old truck with lawnmowers in the back because I was too cool in pre k. Every time I saw grandpa from then on that story came up. Thanks to him and my dad I now have love for old cars and the irony of me being in the landscaping business is gods work. I know that was one of grandpas favorite stories to tell.

Grandpa always took great pride in his yard and garden to say he was blessed with a green thumb may be an understatement, he could grow anything and wouldn’t let any of his fruits or vegetables go to waste. I remember almost every time we would speak on the phone he was sure to inform me on how his crops were doing and how much rain they received, if any. This is only one of the many traits I am proud to have inherited from him, as I too try to keep my yard up to “grandpas standards.” 

Our dad had a hand full of favorite pictures that he would bring out for our wives, children and grand children, in some cases to show off like all the flounder. His best flounder trip (bottom of boat filled with fish) with my uncle Alvin on Halloween where they left wives and children at home and went fishing for Halloween, Another favorite picture as evidence by the crumbling edges or the photo was him standing by a hog that had just been skinned. When the weather was cold enough and dads brother and sisters we in Granger grandpa Polasek would harvest a hog which turned into an all day job. There was meat to butcher, lard and cracklens to render, and a head to boil (ladies job) and pick meat off. If enough time left in the day maybe start to grind for sausage in the evening. It was hard work that you could sit back at the end of the day and enjoy what had been accomplished. Sure ate good too.  

In this picture and many others with relatives and family is this same front of a car which was mom and dads first brand new car. It was powered by a inline 6 with 235 Cu In 123 HP engine and standard transmission with 3 on the tree. My dad would often brag to my uncles that this engine ran so smooth that when idling you could stand a nickel on edge on top of valve cover and it would stay. Cars were a lot smaller on inside than the cruisers of the 1970’s so it got tight we 3 boys in back seat. Little brother always got the hump. Even though it had a 2 – 60 air system then windows were only opened a little on highway to keep road noise down.
Can you believe $1,800 for a new car

High Torque – that is how dad referred to his 1963 Chevy ½ ton truck that he owned and drove for 38 years. The High Torque reference came from lettering on the valve cover of that 230 CI straight 6 cylinder under the hood. He always changed oil before the recommended mileage and did all other of the maintenance activities himself if possible. Well almost when us boys were old enough, we were expected to help. Oh yes when time to wax it was a family affair. 
All good lessons for us boys in proper way of taking care of your equipment. Thanks Dad


Dad is from a generation that more than understood what is called the green movement today heck they lived it. Growing up on a farm with various livestock, poultry and a large garden they understood the process of feeding your family. Growing up I remember chicken manure in tote sacks in trunk of car from grandma’s and also helping bag peanut hauls all to use conditioning the soil of the garden. Chopping the garden was a family event as was picking dew berries each spring. We learned what to plant in the fall for winter garden and what to plant for the spring. Potatoes always get planted between Lincoln and Washington B-Days.
The hard work with the garden paid off in fresh vegetables to eat / share with friends & neighbors as well as teaching of a good work ethic to us boys. 
On road trips we would practice identifying the crops in the field, cotton, corn, beans, milo etc. Thanks Dad


Dad lost a pair of shades just like the on The Black Dragon at Astro World many years ago. That was the last he had to do with fast rides.

Raymond J. Polasek you are the best father-in-law a woman could ever ask for. Thank you for raising Donald and showing him the love for family. My husband is a spitting image of you and I couldn’t of asked for a better father-in-law for 36 years.  Gonna miss you so much!! ❤️❤️
Love you,
Helen

Sorry for your loss. He was my favorite uncle. Had a lot of good times back in the day. He also raised 3 fine sons. Can  not make funeral don't feel good. 

Grandpa….Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure! Your Catholic faith, Czech heritage, passion for fishing, gardening skills, loyalty, and love of your family especially your  great- grandchildren/ great-grand dogs are just the beginning of what I’m going to miss about you! Have the best reunion possible in heaven and know that we are taking good care of grannie! 
Love Amy, Stephen, Caleb, Carson, Roux & Rosie 

In memory of my best neighbor, Raymond had a green thumb. His vegetable garden was proof of that. He complimented my flower bed once, and he told me “but I won’t ever plant anything I can’t eat”. So I told him he can look at my flower garden as long as I can eat some of his vegetables. He replied with “good deal”. Now he is gardening in God’s heaven.The earth lost a good man but Heaven gained one. Raymond was blessed already with his wonderful children, angelic daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Rest In Peace my dear friend🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Mr. Raymond, I’m going to miss seeing you wave at me in the mornings on the way to school or the afternoons coming back home. You were absolutely the closest person I had to a grandpa. Thank you for allowing my sisters and I into your home to play with the dominos as a kids. Thank you for always telling me what you read in the newspaper. Thank you for showing me all the birthday and holiday cards you received. Thank you for all the corny jokes you got from the Leader. Thanks for all the wonderful memories — I’ll cherish them forever. I love you and miss you so much. 

We have thousands of memories with Mr. Raymond. Along with Verna, he was the best neighbor we could ever ask for. We always felt safe leaving the house because Mr. Raymond was always there sitting by his window, watching our house and the rest of the neighborhood. Our children thought of him as their grandpa, and they always will. We love and miss him, greatly. 

I am honored and blessed to be your daughter-in-law for the past 35 years and share the special bond we had no matter what obstacles life brought our way.  We will continue our special bond as daughter-in-law and father-in law no matter where we are or what we do. I will miss our "007" missions, but the memories will last forever.  Rest in Peace Raymond.

Love you always and forever,
Danise Polasek ("007")




Our family is so sorry for the loss of our dear Uncle Raymond.  While some used to joke about Uncle Raymond and his reluctance to buy a new automobile, my parents were two of his biggest fans on that matter.  He made us all proud to be a Polasek kin.

OBITUARY

Raymond John Polasek

October 20, 1929 – January 23, 2022

Pat H. Foley & Company

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