Elvera "Pat" Racek, 71, of Lexington, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, at Tri-County Hospital in Lexington.
Visitation will be held Monday, Nov. 20, 2006, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Chapel in Lexington with Wake Service to follow at 7 p.m. also at Reynolds-Love Chapel. Services will be Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, at 2 p.m. at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Lexington with Father Paul Colling officiating.
Burial will be at the St. Ann's Cemetery in Lexington. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include her husband, John Racek of Lexington; one brother, Allen (Peggy) Schnakenberg of Walnut, Calif.; three daughters, Pam (Arlan) Ackerman of Lexington, LaRae Hammond of North Platte, and Teresa (Scott) Tomasek of Omaha; one son, Mike (Audrey) Racek of Lexington; grandchildren Leia (Mike) Underwood of Oconto, Jory Wood of Lexington, Christina (Brad) Wagener of Lexington, Angie Chaney of Haskell, Okla., Schuyler Racek of Omaha, Betsy Racek of Lexington, Harrison "Bubba" Racek of Lexington, Tucker Tomasek of Seattle, Wash., and Trista Tomasek of Kansas City; eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Herbert Schnakenberg, two sisters, Doris Richardson and Arleen Limbaugh and a grandson, Jay Racek. Pat was born the fifth child of Ernest and Beata Schnakenberg on May 21, 1935, at Davenport, Thayer County, Neb., at a neighbor mid-wife's house. She joined four older siblings, Herbert, Arleen, Doris and Allen.
She attended the Kiowa Lutheran Parochial School until the family moved north of Davenport where she then attended the St. Peter's Lutheran School and was confirmed into the Lutheran faith in May, 1949.
During the summer of 1951, she lived with her oldest brother Herbert in Crete where she worked at a cafe. She moved to Lexington with her parents that fall and graduated from Lexington High School in 1953. During her high school years, she worked as a waitress until her senior year when she worked at an insurance/accounting firm and was hired full-time upon graduation.
On her 20th birthday, Pat was married to Lee Hammond and two children, Pamela and LaRae, were born. The marriage ended in divorce and Pat raised two daughters with the help of her parents.
In Dec. 1961, she was married to John Racek. They have made their home in Lexington for the past 45 years. Pat continued her employment for local attorneys and later went into the tax profession until her retirement after 50 years in the workforce. Pat and John together renewed their faith by becoming members of the St. Ann's Catholic Church.
She was a member of the Dawson County Democrats, the Democratic Women's Caucus, the Association for Retarded Children and Legal Secretaries Association. She also served on the board of Trinity Lutheran Church, chairman of the St. Ann's School Board and the St. Ann's Church Council. She often volunteered for church activities and Meals on Wheels.
Her greatest love was family and she especially welcomed visits with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed the challenge of work, the time with friends and her home life upon retirement.
Memorials are suggested to St. Ann's Catholic Church, the Lexington Fire Department or donor's choice. -Obituary obtained from www.lexch.com
