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Austin American-Statesman 13 Dec 1968 Newspaper Article/Joint Death Notice of Frank F. and Emma Hajek Pechacek Lonesome Whistle Sound Joins Farmer With Wife Flatonia - A passenger train will rumble through Flatonia Wednesday morning just as it has passed for many decades, but an 85-year-old rural mail carrier will not hear the lonesome sound that became too lonely for him to hear last week. The sounds from the trains were among the many things shared by Frank and Emma Pechacek as they passed through 60 years of married life together. But the 79-year-old wife of the retured postman walked down the road to her mailbox to post some letters Friday morning. She apparently did not hear the sound of the train as she crossed the tracks on her way back home. And Pechacek was left without the woman who had borne him six sons since the church bells rang for them when they were young. Saturday passed - and the trains passed - and Sunday arrived with a lone bell tolling for the last time for Mrs. Pechacek at her funeral mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Monday arrived, and the clock was about to strick 10 a.m. It was the hour that the train struck Mrs. Pechacek, killing her instantly. The old postman, sitting alone with six decades of memories of his wife, heard the fatal sound of the train approaching on the same old schedule. Before the clickety-click became inaudible, he suffered a stroke. The next two hours were spent without his wife caring for him as she had always done when he was in pain. And, he passed on like the trains. Mr. and Mrs. Pechacek are survived by their sons, Frank and John Pechacek of Flatonia, Raymond Pechacek of Houston, Ernest Pechacek of Fort Worth, George Pechacek of Llano and Emil Pechacek of Montana. They had 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mrs. Pechacek is also survived by three sisters, Mrs. Adolph Bohuslav and Mrs. Julius Kutac, both of Hallettsville, and Mrs. Oscar Hanna of Moulton. Pechacek is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Emma Michal of Flatonia and Mrs. Mary Haanna of Moulton. The train will be arriving Wednesday in Flatonia about the time mourners attend services for Pechacek at Smith Funeral Home. The services begin at the funeral home at 10 a.m. The funeral will continue at Sacred Heart Church at 10:30 a.m. After the
requiem mass, the body will be taken to the Catholic Cemetery, where Pechacek
will join his wife again. By Nat Hendeson Posted by Matt Cross ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lavaca County Tribune Mrs. Emma Pechacek Killed By Speeding Train Near Flatonia Mrs. Emma Pechacek, 79, was killed near Flatonia, Friday, Dec. 13th, when she stepped into the path of a speeding Sunset Limited passenger train. Investigating officers said Mrs. Pechacek had crossed the track to get her mail and was returning to her home when the accident occurred a half mile west of Flatonia. La Grange Justice of the Peace A. V. Smith returned a verdict of accidental death. The train was on its way to Houston from San Antonio. The engineer, F. H. Payne of San Antonio, said he tried to stop the train but could not halt it in time. Mrs. Pechacek stepped in front of the train and her body was badly mangled under the train. Mrs. Pechacek was born March 25, 1889, at Praha, Fayette County, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Hajek. Funeral services were held Sunday at 1 p. m. from the Smith Funeral Home in Flatonia and at 1:30 p. m. at the Flatonia Catholic Church with burial in the Catholic Cemetery at Flatonia. Rev. Father Galle officiated at the rites, offering a Requiem High Mass at the church. Surviving are her husband; 6 sons, Emil of Montana, George of Llano, Raymond
of Houston, Ernest of Dallas and John and Frank Pechacek of Flatonia; 3 sisters,
Mrs. O. S. Manning of Houston; Mrs. Adolph Bohuslav of St. Mary's, and Mrs.
Julius J. Kutach of Hallettsville. Posted by Matt Cross
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