Memorials › Helen Loretta Masek Janak

Helen Loretta Masek Janak

15 Aug 1924 – 14 Jan 2015

Birth15 Aug 1924
Death14 Jan 2015
CemeteryCalvary Cemetery
Omaha , Douglas County , Nebraska , USA
Added byDEBRA RICH on 19 Dec 2018
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141370520

Bio

Helen L. Janak, 92 August 15, 1924 ~ January 14, 2015 Preceded in death by husband, Edward A. Janak. Survived by children: Betty Long, Susan Janak, Sharon Milburn (Fred), Edward Janak, and Donald Janak; grandchildren-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; nieces and nephews. Private Family Graveside Service at Calvary Cemetery. Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann Dworak & Cutler in service to the family. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Obitary above and tributes below courtesy of Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann Dworak & Cutler, Omaha, Nebraska ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Aunt Helen, Let us know if it's true that "In Heaven there is no beer..." I miss you! To all your family, my sincere condolences. She was the best. Polka on!--- Shari M Our prayers for each of you as you grieve the loss of your mom and grandmother. She was such a sweet heart and loved all of you so very much.--- Ron & Jodie Wingert I was so sad to hear about Aunt Helen. I loved her spunky attitude and enjoyed listening to her stories.--- Deb Bieker So sorry to hear of this. I just received a note from Helen she sent last week. She was a special godmother and I always enjoyed our visits, she will be missed---James Bieker ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Helen Loretta Masek Janak was born August 15, 1924 Ulysses, Nebraska. Her parents were John and Rosa Masek. Helen married Eddie Janak, who died November 25, 1973. Helen attended grade and high school in Ulysses, graduating in 1941. At a young age she sang and spoke the Czech language fluently and began singing with her sister Sally. She married Eddie Janak January 22, 1946. In 1955, the Eddie Janak Orchestra was formed and in the 1960s, started recording. Through the years Helen helped Eddie with correct Czech words in vocals. In 1970, Charlie Dvorak who ran the Omaha Czech Brass Band asked Helen to sing on an upcoming recording with a male vocalist. When that wasn't going so well, she knew who she wanted to sing with, her beloved Eddie. The 10-song medley was recorded after hours of rehearsing at home to get Eddie get the correct Czech words. This recording led to the addition of Helen to The Eddie Janak Orchestra and its travels around the Midwest. On November 25, 1973 came the untimely death of Eddie, and so to keep the music going Helen became the leader of this great organization. Joining her to sing the vocals were Jerry Hospodka and Jerry Chalupa and then a recording came about. The name of the recording was "Remember Me a tribute to Eddie Janak." The tune "Remember Me" was written by Eddie for the band and Helen sang Czech vocals on "Remember Me" and "Back To My Homeland," a tune for which she wrote the lyrics in Czech and English. In September of 1974, Helen booked the band to play at Nebraska Polka Days at Peony Park for the Coronation Night. The guys in the band were treating it as just another dance, but when the event was happening, Big Joe announced, "This year's Queen is Helen Janak!" The guys were amazed that she hadn't said a thing or let out the secret. The Eddie Janak Orchestra played the final dance on December 11, 1976 at The Sokol Auditorium. Helen retired from the polka world until 2002 when at age 77 she recorded a CD called The Eddie Janak Orchestra "Plus Two" on which Helen and Jerry Chalupa did Czech vocals on a previously recorded but never released sound track. Helen last sang August 14, 2014 with her nephew Kenny Janak. ------Contributor: Anonymous (50950498)

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