John Emil Valicek, 84, of Bryan left this earth to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to be reunited with the love of his life, Billie his wife of 48 years, on Saturday, September 14, 2019.  A celebration of his life will be from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm Wednesday, September 18th at Callaway-Jones Funeral Center.  Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 2 pm Wednesday, September 18th at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Graveside Service and interment to follow in Smetana Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.  Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers, Bryan-College Station.

July 19, 1935 – September 14, 2019
John was born on July 10, 1935 in Velehrad,TX to his parents, Willie Valicek and Frances (Zacek) Valicek.  He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle.

He graduated from Lamar consolidated High School in Rosenberg, Texas in 1953.  He worked as a ticket taker at the movie theater and also was a local late-night disc jockey.

John proudly served for 6+ years in the Army National Guard where he set records for his marksmanship.  He worked for an air condition and heating company before going to work as a machine tool salesman.  He worked for many years at Tools, Inc. in Houston. On July 2, 1970 John married Billie Ruth Duncan. They moved to Corpus Christi, TX for three years.  He continued in the machine tool business when they returned to The Woodlands and he started his own company Apollo Machinery before moving to Westcliffe, Colorado in 1993 to “retire”.  There, he co-owned and managed a variety of successful companies with Billie.  Their businesses included a real estate company, a gift shop, a fudge factory, an ice cream parlor, and an outdoorsman shop. They moved back to Texas to “retire” (again) and opened their own Bed and Breakfast.

John loved his “perfect” (his words) grandchildren and great-grandchildren more than anything. His eyes would light up at the sight of those babies!  He was an active member of his church serving as a Lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.  He was very involved in the Rotary Club serving as President of his local chapter for years.  “Pop” / ”Papa” loved hunting and fishing and but his passion was being a custom gunstock maker and refinisher.  He created some beautiful one-of-a-kind stocks for the Texas Rangers and for the Houston Safari Club.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Willie and Frances Valicek; three brothers, Edwin, Bill and Ernest Valicek; two sisters, Edith Valicek and Stella Zapalac; and his wife, Billie Ruth Valicek.

John is survived by his daughter, Cindy and husband, Johnny Ray McCown; grandchildren, Bryan and wife, Cassie Lane, Heather and husband, Adam Vulgamott; great-grandchildren, William, Oliver, Emma, and Rylee; and a host of loving family members and friends.

Please offer condolences for the family of John Valicek at callawayjones.com