Joe Timothy Havelka

Visitation will be held Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home, 3110 Airport Road, Temple, TX 76504, with a vigil, family sharing and Rosary to take place at 8:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2807 Oakdale Drive, Temple, TX 76502, with Father John Guzaldo as celebrant. An inurnment will follow onsite at the St. Luke Catholic Church Columbarium.

Joe was born November 19, 1936 in Granger, TX the son of Joseph and Angeline Havelka. He was raised in the Czech farming community of Corn Hill, TX. He enjoyed being active in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and playing football for Jarrell High School. For his senior year of high school, Joe attended St. Edward’s High School in Austin, TX where he graduated in 1954.

On February 21, 1960, Joe married the love of his life, Angie Vitek. They made Temple their home and together they built a beautiful life raising their 4 children. They were married for 63 years. Joe had a life-long career of 38 years at Ralph Wilson Plastics in Temple, TX where he was one of the first employees hired. His early career took him to Mexico City, where he was instrumental in setting up the company’s manufacturing facility. He and Angie lived there for 5 years. Upon returning to the states, he spent the remaining years of his career supporting a range of quality control and quality assurance initiatives within Wilson Art. After his retirement, he enjoyed farming and ranching on the land that he grew up on. Joe was an active founding member of St. Luke Catholic Church and a member of the KJT Society of Temple. He was an avid outdoorsman; enjoying fishing, hunting, and camping with family and friends. Joe also enjoyed traveling with Angie and seeing many beautiful parts of the world together. The occasional trip to Shreveport was one of his favorite places too! But he was the happiest when surrounded by his family, where there was always much love, laughter, good food, and Czech music playing. In these simple and sweet times together is where a lifetime of beautiful memories was made.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Angeline Havelka, brother Stanley Havelka and brother-in-law Jerry Tobolka. He is survived by his loving wife Angie, sons Ron Havelka (wife Lori) of Conroe, TX, and Jim Havelka (wife Jacque) of Kingwood, TX, and his daughters Carolyn Havelka of Little River Academy, TX, and Patty Turner (husband Keary) of Flower Mound, TX. Joe is also survived by his sisters Mary Jane Tobolka of Austin, TX, Ann Sehon (husband Ray) of Temple, TX, and Margie Matthews (husband Richard) of Burnet, TX, sister-in-law Louise Havelka of Georgetown, TX and brother Ed Havelka (wife Kathy) of Salado, TX. Joe was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Lauren Merrill (husband Robert), Tim Havelka (wife Katy), Zach Havelka (wife Rachael), Chris Havelka (fiancée Alex), Taylor Polk, Heather Polk, Grayson Turner, Travis Turner and a great-granddaughter Bridget Merrill, as well as many other loving family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Luke’s Catholic Church.