Obituary of Raymond R. Pravecek

PRAVECEK RAYMOND

Raymond Ralph Pravecek, age 97 of Yankton, SD passed away Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Bob Lacey officiating.  The burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD with Military Graveside Rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 and the SDANGHG.  Visitations will be from 5 to 7 PM, Monday, April 15, 2024, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, SD with at Scripture service at 7:00 PM.  Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.  Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.  Live streaming of Ray’s service can be found at: https://my.gather.app/remember/raymond-pravecek.

Raymond Ralph Pravecek was born on September 6, 1926 to William and Helen (Hamberger) Pravecek on the family farm northeast of Tyndall, SD. He attended Steckly School District 22.

In the spring of 1945 at the age of 18, Raymond was drafted into the United States Army, attending basic training in Texas at Camp Fannin, before being assigned to Company C, 63rd Battalion. He began in the infantry division and was later transferred to the U.S. Calvary.  Later that year, he was stationed in Tokyo where he served in the Allied Occupation of Japan until he was honorably discharged in 1946.

The following year was a special one for Ray. Following his discharge, he began farming in the spring of 1947. Later that year on October 20, 1947, Ray was united in marriage to Alice Melichar. Together they farmed near Avon, SD before purchasing their first farm near Tyndall, SD in 1963. They lived and worked on the farm until their retirement in 1994, then moving to Yankton as their final home. Alice gained her angel wings on April 12, 2007, surrounded by family.

To Raymond and Alice's union, three sons were born: Carl (Cynthia) Pravecek, Dennis (Malicha) Pravecek and Jeff (Jolene) Pravecek. They were blessed with five grandchildren: Brian Pravecek, Keith Pravecek, Tina (Greg) Paquette, Kyle (Tracy) Pravecek and Nikki (Kyle) LaCroix, as well as six great grandchildren: Cheyenne Paquette, Isabella Paquette, Marli Pravecek, Crew Pravecek, Max Pravecek, and Lana LaCroix.

Ray was a member of St. Benedict's Catholic Church, Yankton VFW Post 791 and a lifetime member of American Legion Post 12. His love of farming carried on to retirement, and he and Alice enjoyed many years of fruitful harvests from their garden.  Ray also loved Bohemian music and playing cards.  He especially enjoyed getting together with other residents at Sunrise Apartments and The Center to play pinochle. Ray also enjoyed travelling, and fondly remembered his time on an Alaskan Cruise in 2008 with his family members, as well as a trip to Washington D.C with the Honor Flight in April of 2010.

Raymond is survived by two sons: Carl Pravecek and Jeff (Jolene) Pravecek; daughter-in-law: Malicha Pravecek; five grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; sister: Delores (Dory) Zelenka and brother: Larry (Mary) Pravecek, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Alice, his parents William and Helen Pravecek, his son Dennis Pravecek, brother Leonard Pravecek (in infancy), brother George and sister-in-law Louise Pravecek, sister and brother-in-law Irene and Joe Solo, sister and brother-in-law Lorraine & George Thaler, sister and brother-in-law Margie & Ed Kafka, brother-in-law Anthony (Tony) Zelenka and daughter-in-law Cynthia Pravecek.