"CHANGING TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF FRATERNALISTS"
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
ViSTNIK SPJST Herald Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897
10A
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
BENEVOLENCE
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 March 16, 1994 ISSN-07458800 VOLUME 82 NUMBER 11
Farewell to our friend and associate
SPJST members and friends mourn loss of Vice President Gebala Pokladnik recalled the interview process. Supreme Lodge Vice President "You've got to remember, when we Bernard "Bernie" M. Gebala, who headbegan interviewing, we were actually ed the SPJST Insurance Department since looking to hire a State Field Manager. October of 1978, died of cancer on "HoVvever, with the passing of Brother Tuesday, March 8, 1994. He was 57. Hejny, priorities changed and we were "Bernie's life touched so many others. looking at appointing our next vice presiHe will be greatly missed by his many friends in our Society and in other fraterdent," explained Brother Pokladnik. "All of us who nal benefit societies were then a part of around the state and the Supreme Lodge the nation," said Supreme Lodge were very impressed by Brother Gebala's President Howard determination, by Leshikar. "We his sincerity, by his extend our deepest candor and by his and most sincere warmth and characsympathies to his loving wife, Evelyn, ter. "He was the indiand family." vidual we were Brother Gebala looking for. Time, I was born January believe, has shown 16, 1937 in Ameswe made the right bury, Massachusetts, choice. Bernie was the only son of a wonderful vice Branny and Alberta president, a kind Syvinski Gebala. He was educated in human being and a dear friend," said Amesbury and Brother Bernard M. Gebala Brother Pokladnik. Newburyport, Mass. 1937 - 1994 Another longtime and attended the friend and past Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston, Supreme Lodge President Nick A. Morris Merrimack College in Andover, Mass. acknowledged Brother Pokladnik's sentiments, adding that, "It won't be easy and the University of Maryland. He marfinding someone to replace Brother ried Sister Evelyn Pokorny of Taylor, Texas on May 9, 1958. Gebala. He was a very good man." Following his appointment to the Prior to working for the SPJST, Supreme Lodge, Brother Gebala went on Brother Gebala established a distinto be elected by acclamation at SPJST guished 23-year record with the United Conventions in 1980, 1984 and 1988. He States Air Force, during which time he was reelected at the SPJST Convention in served as a systems analyzer for Air Force Computer Systems and as an Air 1992. Force recruiter. As a top performer, During his association with the SPJST, Brother Gebala received the Air Force Brother Gebala worked diligently to Commendation Medal three times for involve the Society in various community Sales, Management and Leadership. He and cultural projects. Some of his affiliaalso earned more than 50 sales awards for tions, while serving as vice president, his recruiting efforts, including the 1977 included membership on the Temple Junior College Advisory Board, the Texas Recruiter of the Year award and the Temple Chamber of Commerce, the 1973 Outstanding NCO Recruiting Award for his recruiting efforts within a Temple Centennial Commission and The five-state area. Prior to his discharge in University of Mary-Hardin Baylor July 1978, the Air Force presented Advisory Board. He also served as past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Brother Gebala with the United States Meritorious Service Medal for outstandthe American Red Cross - Bluebonnet ing managerial ability. Chapter, and as a member of the Scott Following the death of Supreme and White Health Plan Advisory Board. On a national level, Brother Gebala Lodge Vice President Joe B. Hejny in achieved the rare distinction of serving as 1978, Brother Gebala was appointed vice president of both the National Fraternal president of the SPJST. Supreme Lodge Congress of America's (NFCA) Fraternal Chairman and District Three Director Sid
For the past 15 years, Brother Gebala Section from 1985-1986 and as president co-hosted the Christmas music show with of the NFCA's Fraternal Field Manager's Association in 1993. He was also a Brother Vrazel, on KMIL-Radio in Cameron—an idea, according to Vrazel, member of SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton, St. that Bernie had originally sparked. Luke's Catholic Church in Temple, "Bernie was the kind of guy who Knights of Columbus, KJT, WFLA, and could make you feel really good about RVOS. RVOS President Glenn Hutka remiyourself. Many a time we would sit and nisced about his association with Brother visit on one thing or another and afterwards I would always feel uplifted. He Gebala. "Bernie was a strong supporter of made you feel special," said Brother Vrazel. RVOS over the years. As a tribute to In the late 1950s, he Brother Gebala s served as treasurer of love of traditional Taylor Lodge No. 12. polka and waltz Also, his farm, of music, Brother which he was very Vrazel, accompanied fond, is insured by Brother Jerry through Lodge No. Wayne Haisler, 200," said Brother Hutka. another close friend, performed a moving "Bernie would regularly come by accordion waltz medley at Brother our office to visit with personnel to Gebala's funeral. exchange pleasantries -Sid Pokladnik Brother Alfred also and ideas relating to sang the Czech Supreme Lodge Chairman concerns that were and District Three Director song,"Zdrava Maria" (Hail Mary). common to both the SPJST and RVOS. Rosary services "No doubt about it, all of us here are for Brother Gebala were held Tuesday going to miss Bernie's presence and evening, March 8 at the Harper-Talasek sense of humor for a long time to come," Chapel in Temple. Mass of Christian concluded Brother Hutka. Burial was held the following day at St. Apart from his work-related endeavLuke's Catholic Church in Temple with ors, Brother Gebala also enjoyed a full Rev. Harry Bilski and Rev. Walter Matus venue of outside interests, including serving as celebrants. Burial was in spending time with his family, weekend Seaton Cemetery with military honors. farming and gardening and old-time Brother Gebala is survived by his wife, polka and waltz music. At one time he Evelyn Gebala of Temple, two daughters, hosted a polka music show on KULP Bernadette Hunter and her husband, Radio in El Campo and for several years Craig, of Georgetown and Michelle he hosted the Czech Melody Hour on Langford and her husband, Mark, of KTEM-Radio in Temple, the oldest Lampasas; his father, Branny J. Gebala of Czech music-oriented program in the Temple; and two grandchildren, Jordan state. Two weeks ago, on March 6, the Langford and Craig Hunter, Jr. Texas Polka Music Association (TPMA) The family requests that tributes and honored Brother Gebala by presenting memorials to Brother Gebala be directed him with its Lifetime Achievement to St. Luke's Catholic Church Building Award. Accepting the award on Brother Fund and Scott & White Memorial Gebala's behalf was his long-time friend Hospital Cancer Research. and musician, Alfred Vrazel. —SPJST-
"Bernie was a wonderful vice president, a kind human being and a dear friend."
Apart from his work related endeavors, Brother Gebala thoroughly enjoyed his role as a loving husband, father and grandfather. Here he is last fall at an outing to the Bell County Exposition Center with his wife, Evelyn, and grandchildren, Jordan, left and Craig, right.