Matthew Arnold Prazak

Matthew Arnold Prazak, of Richmond, Texas passed from this life to his eternal rest with our Lord on Sunday, July 28, 2024 at the age of 87. He was one day shy of his 88th birthday.

Matt was born on July 29, 1936 in Pierce, Texas to Willie, Sr. and Vincencia Mader Prazak. He graduated in 1954 as Valedictorian from Crescent High School in Wharton, Texas, and went on to graduate in 1958 with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&I in Kingsville, Texas. He was hired by Allis Chalmers in their power plant division, and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There, he met his future wife,  Louise Mary Griesemer. Matt and Louise were married on June 18, 1960 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sullivan, Wisconsin.

After their marriage, they moved to north Texas, with what little they had fitting in the car they were driving. Matt worked at several power plants while they started their family. After an incident at the power plant, they then decided that a change of careers was needed, so in 1962, he landed a position as a draftsman for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in Angleton, Texas. He became a Registered Professional Engineer, and “moonlighted” for many years doing surveying with Gene Vasut. While at TxDOT, he worked his way up, serving as the Resident Engineer of the Angleton Office and the District Design Engineer for the Houston Area, and eventually retiring in September 1993 after 31 years with TxDOT. After retirement, he went into consulting, working first for Baker and Lawson, and later Carter & Burgess, before finally retiring for good.

Matt and Louise lived in Angleton the majority of their married lives and were parishioners of St. Basil’s and Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Matt also taught CCD classes at St. Basil’s for a number of years and is a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 5155. They also attended St. Faustina Catholic Church in Richmond after moving into the nursing home in mid-2018.

Above all, Matt loved to work in his garden or with his fruit trees, fishing out in the bayou or the bays, and spending time with the family (especially the grandkids). He spent countless hours watching the grandkids in baseball, volleyball and basketball games. Matt and Louise took trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Tennessee and Europe, as well as many other states to visit their children (although really to visit the grandkids). They also had a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Prague in the Czech Republic, where the Prazak roots trace back to. And, with Louise’s roots back in Wisconsin, there were many trips to Wisconsin to visit the relatives, with Dad, Mom and the 4 of us boys crammed into an old Buick – what memories! Dad always had a wry sense of humor, and even as Alzheimer’s took its toll, he was always up to cracking a joke or giving an unexpected answer to any question anyone might have.

Matt was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 60 years, Louise, sisters Judy (Jimmie) Warner and Josie Wendel, his brother Willie Jr (Hazel), and his granddaughter, Anna Brauchi.

Matt is survived by his sons, Willie (Jo Anna) of Campbellsport, Wisconsin; Michael (Juanita) of Castroville, Texas; Raymond (Deb) of Terrell, Texas; and James (Vonda) of Richmond, Texas. He is also survived by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Cordelia Page and son Dylan; Charlie Prazak; Leslie (Tracy) Hackney and sons Watt and Will; Joel (Mary) Brauchi and son Lance; Stephanie Howell and sons Hunter and Montana; Catherine Prazak; Michael Prazak Jr.; Jasmin Salinas; Karina (Wes) Barlow and sons Jack, Nick, and Clem; Mitch Thomas (Norma Davis); Ali (Stephen) Spealman and daughter Mandy; Patrick (Amanda) Prazak and sons Tucker and Logan; Meagan Prazak; and Kaitlin Prazak.

Pallbearers will be Willie Prazak, Michael Prazak, Raymond Prazak, James Prazak and Patrick Prazak.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Michael Prazak, Jr and Charlie Prazak.

Visitation and Rosary will be held at Palms Funeral Home in Angleton on Friday, August 2, 2024, from 6 pm to 8 pm. The Rosary will begin at 7 pm.

Funeral services will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Danbury, Texas on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 10 am, with Father Arnel Barrameda officiating. Burial to immediately follow at the Angleton Cemetery.

Parts of the Visitation and the Rosary will be live streamed on Facebook Live on Friday evening, as will the funeral services on Saturday. Contact any of the family or see our Facebook pages for more information.

The family would like to thank the many Caretakers and Staff at The Legacy at Long Meadow where both Louise and Matt resided, as well as Accredited Hospice who provided additional care for Matt. Your love, care and support have meant so much to our family. We also would like to thank Dr. David Braunreiter, along with numerous other Physicians, their Staffs and Assistants who have given their utmost care to Matt throughout the years.

The family has one special request. Unfortunately, Louise passed away almost 4 years ago during the height of COVID and because of this, the restrictions at the time limited our celebration of her life. As we gather to celebrate Matt’s life at the visitation on Friday evening, the family asks that we take some time to celebrate the common love that our parents shared by also taking time to commemorate the life of Louise. At about 6:30 pm on Friday, we will invite friends and family to share a few words from their heart about Matt and/or Louise.

We take great comfort that Matt is now free from the bondage of earth, his mind and body made whole, and that he is celebrating with his wife and family in the light of Jesus.

Expressions of sympathy for Matthew Arnold Prazak may be shared at www.palmsfuneralhome.com .