In Memory of

Joseph

Anthony

"Anthony"

Vonasek

Obituary for Joseph Anthony "Anthony" Vonasek

Tony passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at Baylor Scott & White Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am, Saturday, August 19th, at St. Louis Catholic Church on 2001 N. 25th Street, Waco, Texas with Rev. John Guzaldo, as Celebrant. The Rosary service will be 5 pm Friday, August 18, at OakCrest Funeral Home, followed by visitation from 6 to 8 pm.

Tony was born in Waco, Texas on June 17, 1952 to Frank and Iris (Baca) Vonasek of West, Texas.


Tony’s strongest devotion was to his family. He married the love of his life, Debbie (Schwake) on October 11, 1980 at St. Louis Catholic Church. He loved his daughter, Candice and son, Brian, and was very active in their childhood. He served as a team coach for both of them in soccer. He was Candice’s best partner in all her beauty pageants. He served as a team coach for Brian’s roller hockey team and practically adopted all the boys (now grown men) as his own.


He joyfully welcomed and loved his daughter-in-law, Jiliane and any one that knew Tony, knew that he truly adored and loved his grandchildren; Jaylie, Ambry and Jobe. There was nothing in the world that gave him greater joy than being with his family.


He was an avid hunter and fisherman, as well as a Harley motorcycle rider and taking many road trips to the hill country with friends. He would take on anyone at a good game of 42.


Tony was musically talented when it came to playing the “spoons” (which he learned from his father) to polka music. He was an entertainer and usually the spotlight of many family functions. He was an outstanding dancer – polka and waltzes, as that is how he swooped up the love of his life, Debbie. They enjoyed shaking a leg to country, good ole Czech and the Jitterbug.

He joined the United Way of McLennan County in 1985 where he served for the past 30 years. He was well respected for his service and was well known throughout the community as an ambassador for the organization and its mission.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Iris Vonasek, grandmother, Millie Baca, grandparents Frank and Emma Vonasek, brother Frank Vonassek, Jr., and granddaughter, Jaylie Alane Vonasek.

Survivors include his wife Debbie of Waco, daughter, Candice Vonasek of Waco; son, Brian and wife Jiliane Vonasek; and his precious grandchildren, Ambry Grace and Jobe Anthony Vonasek of Waco, brothers: Charles and wife, DiAnne Vonasek of Waco, Patrick and wife, Janice Vonasek of Waco; sisters, Vicki and husband, Tom Bienski of Bryan, Vivian and husband, Darrell Whatley of Lorena, and Vanette Vonasek of West.


He also leaves behind his other family; mother and father-in-law, Bill and Elnora Schwake of Robinson, brother and sister-in-law, Greg and Cyndi Schwake and sister-in-law Becky Allen of Waco.


He leaves behind many nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews.

A very special thank you to Sarah in the SICU at Baylor Scott & White Hospital for taking such tender and loving care of Tony in his last hours of his life. Thank you dear.

Honorary pallbearers will be his roller hockey team: Mark Cureton, Chris Cureton, Chris Eades, Brian George, Shane Graves and “lil” Curtis Graves and Greg Perez, all of Waco.


In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ARC PO Box 3367 Waco, TX 76707, his favorite agency.


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