Pete Matak Jr.

1929 - 2026

Pete Matak Jr. Pete Matak Jr. passed away on March 5, 2026, in Beaumont, Texas at the age of 96 years. He was born on September 9, 1929, in Vanderbilt, Texas, being the seventh of nine children raised by Pete and Annie Matak on a farm in LaSalle, Texas. Less than a month after Pete was born, America's stock market crashed on "Black Friday" and America entered the "Great Depression," a decade that shaped Pete's upbringing and behavior for the rest of his life. During the early years of his life, Pete and his family lived on the farm before any farm or home in Jackson County was wired for electricity, which did not commence until after 1940.

The family was of Czech descent, so they spoke both Czech and English. In addition to working on the farm, Pete and his siblings would occasionally venture to town, hop on top of freight cars that were stopped at the train depot and "borrow" blocks of ice from the refrigerated box cars for use in the family ice box. Pete attended school in LaSalle and Vanderbilt. His records indicated he was a good student, and he eventually received his High School GED.

Pete married Elsie Michalke on January 21, 1951. Two weeks later, he was inducted into the Army and completed basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. After basic training he served as an Army cook at Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Indiana until he was honorably discharged in February of 1953.

Pete then returned to Texas and began his working career in South Texas until he and Elsie moved in 1956 to the Golden Triangle region of East Texas to raise their family of six children. He worked for more than twenty-nine years at the Mobil Refinery in Beaumont. He also owned and operated several washaterias in the region.

Pete was a social person with many friends who loved to dance and enjoy the nightlife. He also had a great sense of humor and loved to tease younger children. Vacations were taken to visit family in South Texas and other parts of Texas, and the road trips in a car jammed full of kids in both the front and back seats were legendary. Pete loved to crab, fish and gig flounder. For many years family and friends gathered at the family beach house on Bolivar Peninsula, which served as grand central station on the Texas Gulf Coast, until Hurricane Ike decided to join the party. He was also a wonderful gardener, usually giving away the fruits and vegetables of his labor to family and friends.

After retirement from Mobil, Pete moved to Silsbee, Texas for several years until he moved to Nederland and lived out his days, traveling and enjoying his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He remarried and lived for fifteen years with Billie Jean (BJ) Kiser.

Pete was preceded in death by his parents and seven of his eight siblings, Alvin Matak, Willie Matak, Wilbert Matak, Lottie Elles, Wilsie Browning, Annie Mizell and Liddie James, as well as Pete's first wife, Elsie Matak, his grandson, Walter Pete Logan Matak and granddaughter, Teri Matak.

Pete is survived by his sister, LaVonne Cooper; his children, Ricky Matak (Belinda), Mary Ann Kajander (John), Danny Matak (Pat), Pete Matak III (Dania), Chris Matak (Elaine) and Chuck Matak (Tera); as well as his seventeen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all the hospital staff, doctors and his many caregivers for all the loving care provided over the past four years.

Memorial contributions may be made to Life Share Blood Center, Attn: Development Department, 8910 Linwood Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71106.

A gathering of Mr. Matak's family and friends was from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 9, 2026, at Broussard's, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Broussard's. His cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard's Crematorium.

Complete and updated information may be found at: broussards1889.com.