John “Sam” C. Vacek
John “Sam” C. Vacek
Oxford Junction
John “Sam” C. Vacek, 73, of Oxford Junction, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, after a long four year courageous battle with cancer.
His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oxford Junction, where a one hour visitation will be held prior to his service. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Dawson Funeral Services in Oxford Junction. Burial will be at Mayflower Cemetery in Oxford Junction.
John Charles Vacek was born on July 9, 1950, in Anamosa, to George and Lorene (Eggers) Vacek. He graduate from Oxford Junction High School in 1968. On Dec. 1, 1973 he was united in marriage to the love of his life Patricia Burgart in Lourdes, Iowa. In his earlier years, Sam worked at Wilson’s in Cedar Rapids, at Bahl Lumber Yard and at Walter’s Lumber before becoming a self-employed carpenter and part time farmer. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oxford Junction. Sam helped with the local Hunter Education Courses and was one of the founding members of the Whitetails Unlimited Wapsie Bottoms Chapter. He enjoyed taking care of his farm and several fruit trees. You could always find him building something or tinkering with some project on the farm. Sam enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. Some of his happiest days were spent on his boat fishing with his boys.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Pat of Oxford Junction; three sons, Kris Vacek of Oxford Junction, Jason (Maggie) Vacek of Davenport and Cory (Lea) Vacek of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister, Marie Clapp of Toronto; and a brother, Marvin (Kathy) Vacek of Oxford Junction.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Kathy Richardson.
John’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Jenigiri, the Oncology Staff at PCI and the staff at UIHC and the Clarence Nursing Home for the compassionate care they gave him over the years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to his family in his honor. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dawsonfuneral.com. Cards of condolences may be directed to Dawson Funeral Services Attn: John Vacek Family P.O. Box 258, Wyoming, IA 52362.