George grew up in Shiner Texas and worked on the family farm picking cotton. There was nothing he loved more than playing his guitar and singing Czech songs and a few C&W ones too. One of his favorites songs to sing was Green, Green, Grass of Home, which is where we now believe he resides. He had a beautiful voice and would enjoy singing in church. He was very proud of the Patek name and the Patek Orchestra (which consisted of his father and uncles) so in his younger years, he taught himself to play the guitar and played in the Herbert Wendel Band then he formed a family polka band named the Patek Polka Dots with his nephews, Robert & Edward Heimann and brother Daniel Patek. They got together often and played at many functions in Texas. He was still singing Czech songs up until his last days, though it got too difficult to strum his guitar.
George served our country in the Unites States Army and was stationed in Korea from May 1953-1955 and received an honorable discharge on April 30, 1961. We are proud of his service and thank him.
George worked for Hormel Company as a truck driver and retired after 35 years. In addition, he also worked a part time job installing sheetrock for Howard Proskey in which he developed the skills that enabled him to sheet rock our family home in Katy. George was a hard worker and loved to drink beer and make good barbeque. He was as stubborn as a Patek could be but had a soft heart and a deep love for his Catholic faith and Jesus. He also loved playing lotto and taking trips to Walmart. He always seemed to come out ahead at whatever he did, even buying 1 raffle ticket which won him a car. He was a very social person and all seemed to know him. He was smart as a whip in mathematics and was a great domino player. In his later years, he would only prepare and eat very healthy meals and go on long walks before his illness set in and of course he loved watching his favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys.
When George turned 80, he became very ill with Pancreatitis, and barely survived, and it was at that time they discovered he had Parkinson’s disease. He fought a long hard battle (with that same stubborn Patek attitude) and lived another 8 years, using every ounce of energy he could muster to get where he wanted to go. As of recently, he fell 8 times within 2 days, one of those being down the stairwell, but he managed the strength to fight the good fight until Jesus called him home.
George is survived by his siblings Eugene (Dorothy) Patek of Shiner and Fred (Rita) Patek of Katy; children Gary Patek of Katy, Beverly (Tracy) Martin of Canyon, Theresa (Jeff) Page of Spring, and George Jr. (Laura) Patek of Katy; 6 grandchildren, Trever (Kylie) Martin of Canyon, Tanner (Kendra) Martin of New Home, Tayten Martin of Perryton, Sarah Patek of Katy, Sophia Patek of Katy, and Andrew Patek of Katy, and 2 Bonus Grandchildren Zach (Jessi) Page of Comanche and Talon Page of Dallas; 4 great grandchildren, Braylie and Brice Martin; Parker and Ryan Martin, and 2 Bonus Great Grandchildren Sampson and Cora Page
He is preceded in death by his parents Jerome and Carrie Patek, Son Greggory James Patek (transitioned to Carolyn Marie Patek); Brothers Jerry Patek, Daniel Patek; Sisters Estelle Patek Heimann, Evelyn Patek Holub, and Carrie Patek Hajek
A visitation for George will be held Monday, October 25, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Buffington Funeral Home, Shiner, Texas. A rosary will occur Monday, October 25, 2021 at 6:00 PM at Buffington Funeral Home Chapel, Shiner, Texas. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 10:00 AM at SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, Shiner, Texas. An interment will occur at Shiner Catholic Cemetery, Shiner, Texas.
The family of George Patek would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and well wishes – they are greatly appreciated. We will miss our dad, but he’s finally at his Green, Green Grass of Home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.buffingtonfuneralhomeshiner.com for the Patek family.
