Emil A. Belicek

Emil Anton Belicek of Edna died Aug. 30, 2013. He was born on Dec. 21, 1920 in Schulenburg. One of seven children born to the late Josef and Rosina Reha Belicek, Emil had three sisters, Mary, Rosie and Albina also known as Billie and three brothers Joe, Frank and Bill.
    Their father Josef, a farmer, and their mother Rosina, a homemaker, emigrated from Czechoslovakia to the United States in 1908, making Emil the first generation native American. In 1927 the family moved to Ganado.
    Emil was in the United States Army, having seen the concentration camp at Dachau just after it was captured by the U.S. Army and before it had been cleaned up. He served in the United States as well as overseas in Northern Ireland, England, Germany, France and Salzburg, Austria. One of his most memorable feats occurred in 1987 when he attended Czechoslovakia, his parents’ native country. After bravely serving his country, Emil retired a farmer and a carpenter.
    A visitation was held Sept. 3 with funeral services following at Oaklawn Funeral Home with Mr. Jim Cocomise from the Philadelphia Church of God officiating. Emil will be buried at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Arkansas on a later date.
    Arrangements are under the direction of Oaklawn Funeral Home in Edna. 361-782-2221.