Joseph Kopecky

Joseph "Joe" Thomas Kopecky, 81, of Lake Buchanan Dam died Monday Feb. 18, 2008 in Llano following an extended illness. He was born on March 12, 1926 in Wharton County, a son of the late Emil and Mary Michulka Kopecky.

Mr. Kopecky was reared in the East Bernard area and attended school there. He served his country in the U.S. Army. Mr. Kopecky married Shirley Foyt on Feb. 25, 1963 in Wharton at Holy Family Catholic Church. He worked as a power plant operator for Phillips Refinery in Old Ocean for 34 years retiring in 1986. He moved to the Hill Country in 1996.

A rosary was recited Friday at Wharton Funeral Home chapel and a Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. today, Saturday, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Wharton with Rev. Dominic Antwi-Boasiako officiating. Burial follows in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Shirley Kopecky of Lake Buchanan; sons, Bryan Kopecky of Waikiki, Hawaii, and Warren Kopecky of Austin; sisters, Mary Matcek of Stafford and Georgia Helmcamp of Wharton; brothers, Jimmy Kopecky of Rosenberg and Robert Kopecky of Wharton.