Jasek, Zatopek Family Annual Reunion Set For July 19 in Ellinger
Members of the Jasek and Zatopek families will gather Sunday, July 19, for their annual reunion in Fayette County. The reunion begins with a 10 a.m. Mass at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fayetteville and then moves to St. Mary’s Parish Hall near Ellinger with registration beginning at 11 a.m.
In addition to a pot-luck lunch, the families share family history information and photos, recognize accomplishments, and honor memories of deceased loved ones. Games are provided for children. We just have fun. All are encouraged to bring an item for a silent auction; the proceeds pay for expenses.
Officers are elected every year to organize and staff each reunion. John Gully of Cypress is the current reunion president.
A Long Reunion History
The reunion was started in 1953 by two cousins, Willie Jasek (1896-1982) and Elo Zatopek (1902-1976), both of whom were in their 50s at the time. The two, who were also good friends, apparently wanted to reconnect with each other and their families in the aftermath of WWII.
Czech Heritage
Both families trace their heritage to the Moravian region of what is now the Czech Republic. The Jaseks came from Hovezi, and the Zatopeks from Trojanovice. They settled mostly in Texas near towns like Fayetteville, Weimar, La Grange and Columbus. The two families became entwined when John Jasek (1869-1963) married Veronika Zatopek (1869-1955) Jan. 13, 1891. The descendants of the couple’s parents - Thomas and Majana (Hrback) Jasek and Frank and Mariana (Holub) Zatopek – as well as the couple’s children – are invited to the reunion. On the Jasek side are the families of Edwin and Rosalie (Hafernik) Jasek, Alois and Frances (Veselka) Jasek, Veronica (Jasek) and Joe Machalec, and Joseph and Agnes (Krenek) Jasek. On the Zatopek side are the families of Anton and Barbora Zatopek, and John and Rosina (Grossman) Zatopek.
In addition, the reunion offers an opportunity for the co-founders’ descendants to reconnect, such as the families of Willie’s children: Olga Gully, Effie Piwetz, Leonard Jasek, Lawrence Jasek, Marian Prihoda, and Willie Mae Jasek—and the families of Elo’s children: Elo J. Zatopek and Royce Zatopek. Family comes to the reunion from all over Texas as well as other states, such as Louisiana, Arkansas, Minnesota, and California.
“We have lost a lot of direct descendants over the years,” said John Gully, “but the next generation is doing their best to keep the reunion going by attending and sharing stories and memories.”
For more information, contact John Gully at (281) 703-0797 or johngully30@gmail.com. Information is also available on Facebook.