Daniel Anthony Orsak

Daniel Orsak, 81, of East Bernard, passed away on Monday, November 17, 2025, at his home. Daniel was born in the Schumann Hospital in East Bernard, TX, on November 12, 1944, to the late Charlie and Mary Mican Orsak.

Daniel’s mother passed away when he was young, leaving his father to raise three small children. He was born and raised in East Bernard and graduated high school in 1963. Daniel worked on the family farm and paid his college education with money he earned from cotton crops, FFA, and 4H projects.

He attended Wharton County Junior College before his lifelong dream of attending and graduating from Texas A&M University, Class of ‘67. Prior to graduation, he married Geraldine Kuhn on August 20, 1966, in Hungerford, TX. He later received his master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University.

After college, he returned home to teach vocational agriculture at East Bernard High School. He then built, owned, and operated Lissie Wonder Garden for many years. Later in life, he worked in the oilfield and for the Wharton County Pct 2 as a foreman. Never one to sit still, he concluded his working years bailing hay with Goudeau Farms. Daniel enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, canning, making sausage and sauerkraut, spreading his knowledge of plants, and propagating flowers and trees for others. He was a people person, having never met a stranger. He enjoyed the Christmas holidays and dressing up as Santa to bring joy to many little hearts. He was a kind man who loved visiting with the sick and elderly. Daniel was a proud member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council No. 2500, and Hungerford KJT.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his in-laws, Lee and Dora Kuhn, brother-in-law, Bernard Mach, and sister-in-law, Thelma Kutach Orsak.

Daniel is survived by his wife of 59 years, Geraldine (Gerry) Orsak of East Bernard, daughter, Suzanne Orsak Stavinoha and husband, Mike of Rosenberg, son, Dan Orsak and wife, Lisa of West Columbia, brother, Bennie Orsak, sister, Elaine Cook and husband, Chuck, brother-in-law, Weldon Kuhn and wife, Marion, grandchildren, Dillon Stavinoha and wife, Shelby, Darci Stavinoha-Cox and husband, Charlie, Jolie Orsak, and Wade Orsak, great grandchildren, Brooks and Brayden Stavinoha, and Parker, Cameron, and Blake Cox, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, after 4pm with rosary recited at 5 pm at Holy Cross Catholic Church in East Bernard. Funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal will be held on Monday at 10 am at Holy Cross Catholic Church with burial to follow in the Church Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Ben Orsak, Russell Orsak, Kevin Mach, Steven Mach, Dillon Stavinoha, Charlie Cox, Wade Orsak and Mike Stavinoha.

Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com.