Paul Miloslav Sulak

Paul Miloslav (Sweet) Sulak, 93, of Hillsboro passed away Saturday, January 13, 2024, in Hillsboro. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with Rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday January 17, 2024, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Hillsboro with Reverend Nghia Nguyen as celebrant.  Graveside services will follow at Fatima Cemetery near Abbott, conducted by Reverend Nghia Nguyen and Veterans Honor Guard.

He was born December 15, 1930, to Albert Frank Sulak and Josephine (Rejcek) Sulak. In Paul’s younger years, he enjoyed making the trip to West to see his cousins play in Willie Nelson’s original band. In January 1954, he married the love of his life, Mary Frances Dudik, in Abbott, Texas. After being married a short four months, he was drafted by the United States Army and served his country. He trained in the Antiaircraft Artillery Replacement Training Center at Ft. Bliss, Texas. During his time in the military, he was stationed at the Headquarters United States Forces in Austria, Europe, Ft. Hamilton, New York, Ft. Benning, Georgia, and Ft. Hood, Texas. After being honorably discharged from the United States Military, he moved back to Hillsboro with his family and continued a farming career. He actually started farming at the young age of 15 when he dropped out of high school to help his father. His three older brothers were already all serving in the military which left him the only one to help his family farm. Paul refused to receive any military benefits, stating “the benefits belonged to his buddies that really needed the assistance.” He was one of the very first farmers to introduce the use of a cotton stripper in Hill County. During his career as a farmer in Hill County, he received numerous awards and trophies for being an accomplished and successful farmer including having the best cotton production in the county. Paul often would build special attachments and plows for cultivating and spraying crops when these new inventions were not yet invented by large corporations. He was never afraid to try something new to improve his farming practices. He used his mechanic skills to design, build, and repair farm equipment and create new tools for improving his farming.

One of his greatest accomplishments in his life that he would often boast about was the four sons he reared to be successful and accomplished farmers, too.  Paul had a tremendous impact on all nine of his children’s lives with his strong work ethics. He taught his children to work hard and pray every chance they got. Sundays were spent with the family and an hour set aside for the West Czech hour and dancing around the den.  He spent many days on the river with his sons fishing and many days on the deer lease with his family. This time together would build memories the family will remember forever. The entire family was traveling to the deer lease in the yellow Pontiac station wagon listening to the radio when the landing on the moon occurred in 1969. All the kids cheering for the success of the landing. A memory that will be instilled forever, along with the memory of Paul taking his mother, Josephine, for her 80th birthday, his wife, Mary Frances, and all of his daughters to Las Vegas.

When he did not want his children to understand what he was saying to their mother, Paul would speak in fluent Czech language. He experienced a great loss when his best friend and brother, Oldrich died in 1979. The two of them held a special bond and friendship. The family had a 92nd birthday celebration for him and he was so surprised that so many people still remember him. Many friends and family came to celebrate this special day with him. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and a true and passionate patriot of the United States.

He is preceded in death by his father, Albert F. Sulak; his mother, Josephine (Rejcek) Sulak; brothers, Albert P. Sulak and wife, Caroline, Abdon Sulak and wife, Helen, and Oldrich Sulak and wife, Mary; sister, Dagmar Cepak; brother-in-law, Harry G. Nors; son-in-law, Eddie Harkin; and daughter, Mary Margret Sulak.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 69 years of marriage, Mary Frances;  sister, Netta Jo Nors; brother-in-law, Marvin Cepak; son, Steven Sulak and spouse, Linda, and their children, Jennifer Gerik, Brandon Sulak, Ashley Hermes, Bradley Sulak and their children; daughter, Loretta Harkin and children Monet Van Gundy and spouse, JD Van Gundy, and children Aurora and Jackson Van Gundy, Athena Moore and spouse, Greg Moore, and children Noah and Anistyn Moore; daughter Sharon Schroeder and spouse, Dennis Schroeder, and daughters Kerinne Herber and spouse, Treff Herber, and children Weston, Holt, Chapel, Willow, and Brazos Herber, Terri Jo Fuessel and spouse, Butch Fuessel, and children Kylee Jo Schroeder Howard, Karsen, Kimber, and Kolsen Fuessel; son, Timothy Sulak and spouse, Cruz; daughter, Marquita Sulak and children Madison Kuenstler and spouse, Trey Kuenstler, and child Quade Kuenstler, Jason (Pookie) Allen Brown II and spouse, Abbie Brown; daughter, Colette Schaefer and spouse, Ron Schaefer; son, Christopher Sulak; daughter, Felicia Hargrove and spouse, Christopher Hargrove, and children Alexis and Dillon Hargrove; and son, Jeffery Sulak and spouse, Heidi Sulak, and children Trenton and Sydney Sulak.

Pallbearers: Albert Sulak III (nephew), Michael Sulak (nephew), Ronnie Dudik (cousin-in-law), Ron Schaefer (son-in-law), Dennis Schroeder (son-in-law), Chris Hargrove (son-in-law), Charles Lesley (family friend) and J.D. Van Gundy (in honor of Eddie Harkin, grandson-in-law).

Honorary Pallbearers: Kerinne Herber (granddaughter) and Treff Herber, Teri Jo Fuessel (granddaughter) and Butch Fuessel, Monet Van Gundy (granddaughter) Athena Moore (granddaughter) and Greg Moore, Madison Kuenstler (granddaughter) and Trey Kuenstler, Jason (Pookie) Allen Brown II (grandson) and Abbie Brown, Alexis Hargrove (granddaughter), Dillon Hargrove (grandson), Trenton Sulak (grandson), and Sydney Sulak (granddaughter).

The family would like to give a special thank you and appreciation to all the health caregivers over the years, especially Ofobuike Okani, MD, for all of his special care for our father. Also, a special thank you to Janice and Vernon Markwardt for all the visits and prayers.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Frances is requesting donations be made to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Hillsboro for the Fellowship Hall fund.