Longtime Prague resident Richard Ernest Sestak departed this life Sunday, October 14, in Prague at the age of 73.

He was born July 12, 1934, in the Bellemont community near Prague, to Ernest and Anna Klabzuba Sestak.

He attended Fairview School and graduated from Prague High School with the class of 1952 where he was a FFA member, serving as chapter president and receiving the Jr. Master Farmers Degree. In 1957, he graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and received a Master of Science degree in Agriculture Education in 1965.

Richard proudly served his country in the U. S. Army, 72nd Medical Detachment, VFI in Germany from 1957 to 1960.

He married Valdene May Kozel March 23, 1963, in Shawnee.

Richard worked for the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service for 29 years. As an educator and agriculturalist, he worked with thousands of people during his tenure in Extension. Richard was concerned with helping people to help themselves by increasing their agricultural production enterprises through technical and management skills to realize a higher standard of living. He encouraged creativity and motivation of young people through 4-H youth development programs to help them become more productive citizens and role models for their community.

He served as an Assistant County Agent in Nowata and Pottawatomie counties, and County Agricultural Agent and County Extension Director in Jefferson and Canadian counties. He retired from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in 1990.

He was a member of the Prague First Baptist Church, Prague Lions Club, WFLA Lodge #46, Retired Extension Agents Association, and the Lincoln County and Oklahoma Cattlemen's Associations.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George Joe Sestak; and sister-in-law, Wanda Kozel.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Valdene Sestak of the home; sons and daughters-in-law, Ross and Krista Sestak of Prague; and Robert and Stacey Sestak of Broken Arrow; six grandchildren, Jarrod, Jacob and Lilyana Sestak of Prague; Brady, Alyxandra, and Jack Sestak of Broken Arrow; brother-in-law, Karl Kozel of Shawnee; sister-in-law, Linda Sestak Harjo of Sasawaka; and many other relatives and friends.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Prague with Bro. Tim Emmons officiating.

Burial will follow at the Czech National Cemetery in Prague.

Memorials may be made to the Building Fund at the First Baptist Church, Rt. 3 Box 243, Prague, Oklahoma 74864; the WFLA Lodge #46 Restoration Fund, NBU 5702, Prague, Oklahoma 74864; or the Lincoln County 4-H Scholarship Fund, Lincoln County 4-H, 811 Manvel, Suite 2, Chandler, Oklahoma 74834.

Service is under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.

A guest book is available to share your memories online. Please visit www.ParksBrothers.net.

Submitted & © by: Sherry Springer

Submitted & © by: Sherry Springer