Joseph Jacob "Joe" Nemec

March 6, 1918 – November 17, 2009

Joe Nemec, 91, of Bryan, passed away on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at his home in Bryan.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, from 5 to 6 p.m., with a rosary at 5pm at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan.

Funeral Service will be Friday, November 20, at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. Entombment will be in Monsignor Gleissner Mausoleum in Bryan.

Born March 6, 1918 in Smetana, Joe was the youngest of eight children. Joe had to leave school to help support his family during the "Great Depression". He enlisted in the U. S. Army in October 1941 and subsequently served in the Bismarch Archipeligo and in New Guinea during World War II.

He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He was honorably discharged in 1945, and later worked as an auto mechanic at Bryan Air Field until it closed.

Joe worked various jobs and worked as an appliance repairman at Sears until his retirement.
Joe married Mary Josephine Holik while on furlough in 1942, and subsequently raised a son and two daughters.

A devout Catholic, his children attended St. Joseph's Parochial School, and he was active as an usher at St. Joseph Catholic Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.


Joe was very proud of his Czech ancestry; he was active in KJT and in 1985, traveled to the home village of his parents, Archlebov, in Czechoslovakia. He loved polka music and playing his accordion.

Joe was preceded in death by wife, Mary, in December of 2008, and his parents.

Survivors include his son, Joseph C. Nemec of Sacramento, Calif.; his daughters, Kathryn Nemec and Patricia Matchett; his grandchildren, Cynthia Nemec and Sandra Nemec; and great-grandson, Brian Nemec.