Edmund Edwin Dusek

Edmund Edwin Dusek, born on May 6, 1934, passed away on Friday, August 31 after a battle of complications from the advanced stages of Parkinson’s Disease. His parents were Edmund Felix Dusek of Ammannsville, Texas, and Matilda Anne Janicek of Schulenburg. His grandparents/great-grandparents were Czech and German immigrant farmers who settled in the area at the time and who have brought Czech heritage and culture to the history of Texas. Ed started school when he was five, at St. Rose Catholic Elementary, in Schulenburg, where he was also an altar boy. When he was eight, he and his parents moved to San Antonio so his father could work at Kelly Air Force Base during WWII. In San Antonio, Ed attended St. Leo’s Grade School though the seventh grade and then attended Harlandale Junior/Senior High School, where he graduated high school in 1951. Ed then attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio his freshman year, then transferred to Texas A&M University, graduating in 1955 as a Distinguished Military Student with a BBA in Marketing and a commission as 2nd Lt. in the United States Army. He spent two years in active duty in 1957 and 1958 in the Quartermaster Corp at Ft. Lee, Virginia, and Munich, Germany. After active duty, Ed served in the Army infantry reserves, attaining the rank of Captain before ending his reserve service. Ed worked for Sears, Roebuck and Co. in retail store management. He started in 1955 with the company’s Executive Trainee Program and worked his way up the corporate retail ladder to retire 39 years later as the District Manager for Sears in central, south, and west Texas. Fourteen years of Ed’s service time with Sears was spent in Sears International Operations. Ed and his family lived four years in Madrid, Spain, seven years in Mexico City, and five years in Chicago. After retiring from Sears, Ed moved from San Antonio to Austin, to be closer to family. He was a consultant, while obtaining a Master’s degree. He later worked at Westwood High School where his granddaughters attended high school. He was a self-taught musician, having played in a jazz band when he was young, and learned to play the guitar, flute, and clarinet. He loved to cook, work on cars, and was an excellent wood-carver. He was young at heart, and for his 70th birthday, got himself a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he rode for several years. He was very active in Rotary Club and A&M Ex-Student Association. He was proud to be a Texan, an Aggie, and of Czech heritage, and being with his family was the most important. Ed is survived by his two daughters and three granddaughters. His daughters are: Cheryl Sanders and husband Lance, of Austin, Laura Murphy and husband Colin, of Augusta, Ga., and granddaughters: Allison Sanders of Austin, Madison Broussard and husband Josh, of Houston, and Catherine Murphy, of Augusta, Ga. Ed requests it be known that he attempted to do well as a son, husband, father, and grandfather during his time on earth. There is no doubt that he achieved all of these successes in life, and he was dearly loved by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. Thank you to Buckner Villas and Hospice Austin for making his last days comfortable. A memorial will be held at a later date. Donations in his honor can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Edmund Edwin Dusek

May 6, 1934 - August 31, 2018