Matilda Mary (Tillie) Stejskal

Matilda Mary (Tillie) Stejskal, 93, passed away peacefully at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned, Kansas on June 30th.  Tillie was born February 1, 1925 in Great Bend, Kansas to Arthur and Mary Nordman Hagerman.  Tillie grew up in rural Albert, Kansas; attended Otis High School and graduated from Great Bend High School.

Tillie was the epitome of the 'Greatest Generation - selfless sacrifice, a tireless worker and homemaker, and always put others, especially her family, ahead of herself.  Immediately following graduation from high school, she worked in the Department of the Navy in Washington, DC and later in the Boeing factory in Seattle, Washington to support her country in World War II.  After World War II, she returned home to Kansas.  On April 10, 1947, she married her soulmate, Edward Stejskal.  With little money and only three quarters of land, they took on the seemingly impossible challenge of farming.  They continuously beat mother nature, grew the farm, and raised four incredible children.  Edward passed away July 17, 1976.  After Edward died, Tillie and her son, Don, formed a partnership and continued to grow the farm to 15 quarters and 100 head of cattle, a phenomenal achievement.

Tillie was a woman of exceptional strength, character, moral courage, and integrity and a savvy businesswoman. She deeply loved her family, farming, ceramics, and crafts.  She touched and enriched many lives through the Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Burdett and the community as a member of Shiley Homemaker EHU, the Rozel Quilting Club, the Burdett Library Board, and the Burdett Senior Center.

Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edward, and son-in-law John Perez.  Tillie is survived by her daughter Mary Perez of Larned, Kansas; her daughter, Janice Heit (husband Stephen) of Larned, Kansas; her son Don (wife Donna) of Burdett, Kansas; and daughter Carol Loose (husband Mike) of Vienna, Virginia;  eleven grandchildren: Shawn, Angie (husband Troy), Rebecca (LaRon), Misty, Kristy, Scott (wife Amy), James, Louis (wife Nichole), Michael, Allison, and Chris; and fifteen great grandchildren:  Kenneth, Alexia, Shaylene, De'Shaun, Jonathan, Tori, Monica, LaRon Jr., Olivia, Makenna, Bridgette, Madi, Jacob, Erica (husband Samuel), and Charles; and two great, great grandchildren:  Anthony and Sofia.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Vigil and Rosary service  will be 7 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Visitation will be held Monday 9 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be at the Larned Cemetery following the service.

Memorials may be given to the Burdett Senior Center in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS. 67550.