Wesley John Lanicek, lovingly known as "Grandpa" by his family and "Big Czech" by his friends, passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Wesley had just recently celebrated his 89th birthday. He was born on October 1, 1936, at the same Bardwell homeplace where his dad was born. The only son of Wesley ("Gus") and Bessie Trpak Lanicek, Wesley was outnumbered by five sisters–the poor guy didn't stand a chance! Growing up in the Bardwell farming community, he worked hard on the family farm. He attended Bardwell school and later went to St. John Catholic School in Ennis, graduating in 1955. While at St. John's, he played basketball and baseball. We bet he gave those nuns a run for their money, as the sneaky prankster in him earned the nickname "Possum" by some of his buddies.

A certain Ennis "city girl," Pauline Dlabaj, caught this country boy's eye and he decided he wanted her all to himself. She took a liking to him, as well, and they married on June 13, 1959 in St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church of Ennis, followed by dinner and dancing at the K.J.T. Hall. They made their home in Ennis, where they raised their five children. Wesley worked in construction all of his life and started his own company, Lanicek Construction Company, Inc. (LCC), in 1977. The bulk of his business was maintenance and construction at the Procter and Gamble plant in Dallas. LCC was based out of their home office that Pauline managed. Daughters helped with payroll and paperwork, while sons worked construction sites, so it was definitely a family affair for many years. Wesley proudly ran his business for almost 40 years with integrity and a strong work ethic that he modeled for his kids. His family would lovingly joke about him being a "hard headed Bohemian"....but man, did he ever have a big, soft heart.

Wesley never knew a stranger and his warm, witty personality made others feel right at home. His love for family and friends ran deep. This big love powered a generosity of spirit, shown many ways like sharing surplus from the huge summer garden he loved growing every year at the homeplace. He would always plant more than his own family could ever eat, with the intention of giving to others…especially tomatoes and cucumbers! He loved canning cucumbers, making a special kind of pickle known as kvasanak in Czech, which he and family pronounced "quash-ee-knocks." Besides gardening and farming, Wesley loved family time, fishing, hunting, spending weekends at the deer lease with friends, Texas Rangers baseball, playing dominoes, taking family vacations to the coast and going snow skiing, exploring numerous states on couples' trips, and having fish frys – especially on Christmas Eve, a family tradition at the farm. He took pride in helping cook delicious barbecue for weddings at the K.J.T., as well as for the St. John Church bazaar and the annual Polka Festival. He loved his Czech heritage, which gave him some of his "favorites"-- his mother's buchta, poppyseed kolaches, apple strudel, klobase and, of course, pivo! He enjoyed going to dances at the local halls, especially the K.J.T., where his daughters would grab him for a twirl around the dance floor. But "Silver Wings" was off limits…that was his and Pauline's song. Wesley faithfully listened to a Sunday morning Czech music show. On his last Sunday on earth, his family had a portable radio in his hospital room playing the Czech music show for him just hours before he passed away later that afternoon.

Wesley was a member of St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church of Ennis, K.J.T. Society #35, where he served on the Executive Board, SOKOL, and the St. John Booster Club when his children were in school.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Pauline Dlabaj Lanicek, and children: Diane Lanicek; Denise Rejcek, husband Jerry; Monica Younkman, husband Fred; Michael Lanicek; Steven Lanicek, wife Brittney; sisters Irene Vitovsky and Josephine Hickman; grandchildren Amanda Zabojnik, husband Tim; Lindsay Lipscomb; Morgan Patak, husband Darrell; Carly Pechal, husband Dillon; Mackenzie Rejcek, fiancee Josh Cooper;
Melanie Younkman; Whitney Younkman; Caroline Lanicek; ten great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchilren. Wesley is preceded in death by his parents and sisters Anna Lee Weaver, Helen Patak, and Betty Jane ("BJ") Coker.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m., with Rosary at 7:00, in the J. E. Keever Mortuary Chapel of Ennis.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church of Ennis with Father James Yamauchi officiating. Pallbearers will be: Patrick Hickman, Brian Valek, Ronnie Honza, Tony Vitovsky, Syl Holy and Tim Williams.

Entombment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery under the direction of J. E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.