Josephine (Gelnar) Jaronek passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2016, at the age of 95, in her home and surrounded by her family. Josephine was born on January 20, 1921 to Frank Gelnar and Hedvika (Neuvirth) Gelnar in their home in the Lake Creek Community. Jo was the youngest of 12 children; she had 6 sisters and 5 brothers. Josephine attended grade school in the Lake Creek Community, but later attended and graduated high school in Ennis, TX in 1939. In 1943 she moved to Dallas where she worked for McDonalds Wholesale Company. Alongside her sister Millie, in 1948, the two girls opened a 5&10 Store in Carrolton, TX, and later sold the business in 1950. Eventually, Jo attended a dance in Dallas, TX where she met the man that she would dance with for the next 64 years, Rudy Jaronek. Rudy loved to dance with Josephine to songs that were about roses, because she always was his very own beautiful, blue eyed Texas Rose. Following a long distance courtship, the couple married on April 29, 1950, and began to build a family of their own in July of 1951 when Daniel was born, followed by Margaret in 1953, Michael in 1954, and finally Victor made the family complete in 1959. While the children were in grade school, Jo faithfully served as a home room mother. In 1971, the family moved from their home in south Oklahoma City, OK to an acreage in Norman, OK where Josephine thoroughly enjoyed baking traditional Czech pastries such as Christmas Braid and Kolache while her family thoroughly enjoyed eating them, in addition to Sauerkraut, Beef Heart, a very special Cheeseball and everything else that she made; Jo was a wonderful cook. Something her family will attest to is that a person was never allowed to leave hungry; one might have just eaten a meal, but when Josephine Jaronek, with the sweetest smile and genuine concern, asked if you were hungry, you would smile and find a way to eat something. Rudy and Josephine attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she served in the Altar Society, and later attended services at St. Mark’s Catholic Church where her membership presently resides. While Josephine had many talents, one of which was the ability to continually beat Rudy and her grandchildren in a game of Skip-Bo, her true love was caring for Rudy and her family. She was forever found thinking of everyone before she ever considered herself, and always without a single complaint. She happily gave everything for and to her family, always being concerned with them and their needs. Even when things were becoming exceedingly difficult for her to endure, she would continue to tell a person, “Oh, I’m doing okay Hon.” Josephine Jaronek was a cornerstone of her family and her family’s faith by the example she set for them and the life that she so generously lived.

Josephine was preceded in death by her loving husband, Rudy Jaronek; parents Frank and Hedvika Gelnar; brothers: Robert, Porter, Johnny, Frank, and a brother who passed at birth; and sisters: Anna, Mary, Millie, Hedwig, Agnes, and EulaMae.

Josephine Jaronek is survived by three sons: Dan and his wife Charlene of Cordell, OK; Mickey Jaronek of Oklahoma City, OK; ; and Victor Jaronek and his wife Cindy of Norman, OK; one daughter, Margaret Jaronek of Moore, OK; by 5 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, and another great-grandchild to be born in the very same month, almost to the day, in which Rudy and Jo started their family 65 years ago.

Wake Service will be held 7:00 PM Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church, 3939 W. Tecumseh in Norman, OK. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, May 19, 2016 also at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church. Friends may leave condolences at vondelsmithmortuary.com.

Interment Information
Resthaven Memory Gardens
Oklahoma City, OK 73139