Emil Steve Smesny

Emil Steve Smesny, 90, of San Antonio passed away Friday, July 26, 2019. Emil was born January 25, 1929 in Eastgate, Texas to parents Joe V. Smesny and Mary Barbara Rachunek Smesny.

Services for Mr. Smesny will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Eastgate. Interment will follow at Magnolia Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home. Rosary will be 6:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at Pace-Stancil.

Emil was a lifelong resident of Eastgate/Dayton. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1951 until 1953 during the Korean War with the 74th Combat Engineers. He was a squad leader and a demolition expert. A corporal, he served in the combat zone battle of the Iron Triangle. Emil worked as an outside salesman for 44 years. 36 years in the wholesale beer business. He also worked on the family farm.

Emil was a former member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church for over 70 years. He served as council member, usher, money counter, St. Anne’s Cemetery secretary/treasurer. He helped to build the present St. Anne’s Catholic Church in 1947-1948.

He enjoyed working with the Knights of Columbus; calling bingo at St. Joseph Hall for fundraisers and helping Father Fee work on St. Anne’s Hall. He also served as co-chairman with Steve Hajovsky of the St. Anne’s Bazaar/Festival. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #8871, American Legion Post 658, VFW Post 5621, Czech Heritage singers of Houston, and the Czech Union of Texas the K.J.T.

Emil enjoyed writing short stories true and fiction, being a handyman, singing and listening to Czech music; watching old and new westerns and movies; and keeping up with the news. He also liked to bar-b-q and grill.

Mr. Smesny was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Joe Smesny, Louis Smesny, and Jerry Smesny, sisters, Molly Hanel and Eleanor Leibham; son-in-law, Guy Frizzell.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy McWhirter Smesny of San Antonio; daughters, Karen Rabel, Mary Frizzell and Sheryl Keller and husband Russell; grandchildren, Jennifer Fox and husband Aaron, Robert Rabel, Stephen Cathey and wife Phylicia, Emily Rabel-Berkey and husband Dave, Daniel Cathey and wife Marissa, Ryan Keller and Megan Keller; great-grandchildren, Jaydon, Kylie, Khloe, Nicki, Ella, Nash, and Thomas; sister, Lillian Kulak; brother-in-law, Thomas Leibham; sisters-in-law, Marveline Smesny, Maline Smesny and Josephine Smesny; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.