Herman  Hovorka

OFFICIANT
Lorney Van Gerpen
MUSIC
Pianist ~ Barb Van Gerpen
Congregational Hymns
"How Great Thou Art"
"Amazing Grace"
"Old Rugged Cross"
"Golden Gravel Road" by Adam Fears
PALLBEARERS
Dave Hovorka
Roger Hovorka
Tim Hovorka
Dennis Hovorka
Chuck Hovorka
Jerry Hovorka
Herman Ambrose Hovorka was born in a blizzard October 25, 1918 on the family farm in rural Tabor to Ambrose and Amelia (Blaha) Hovorka. He attended country school through the eighth grade. From a young age, Herman was a farmer. At age 16 he left home to pick corn by hand in Webster, SD and also in Iowa. After saving his money from picking corn, one of the first things he purchased was a 1929 Chevy, which he drove to get to the various jobs he had picking corn. He began farming on his own with a B John Deere and farmed all his life. Herman married Mildred Novak April 9, 1949 at Sioux City, Iowa. In 1964 he purchased Tony Hovorka’s farm and it is there that he lived until his sudden illness in May of this year. Up until age 96, he was still active in farming and thoroughly enjoyed being a caretaker of the land and raising purebred Angus cattle as well hogs, chickens, ducks and geese. Music was always a big part of Herman’s life. He loved to play the button key accordion, taking lessons from Mel Winckler. He played with the Tyndall Accordion Club for many years. In his younger years, he and Mildred were members of a square dance club in Yankton. He also enjoyed playing pinochle. His Czech heritage was very important and he and Mildred and his brothers and sisters-in-law made many trips to Clarkson, Wilbur and Verdigre, Nebraska and other Czech festivals over the years. He was a member of WFLA Lodge #80 for more than 50 years. Herman enjoyed many hunting trips West River to hunt deer as well as trapping, goose hunting and duck hunting and he also loved to fish. He loved to visit and tell stories about life on the farm through the years. After Mildred’s death in 2009, he remained on the farm with his son, Larry, tending his garden, helping with the field work, making wine from the grapes he raised and doing most of the cooking – his specialty being cherry pie. After a sudden decline in his health, he became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society in Tyndall May 27 and it is there that he died June 7, 2016.
Herman is survived by his son Larry (Sheila Kremer) and Sheila’s children Becky (LJ) Beeson of Wagner, Katy (Brian) Cihak of Kaylor and Zane Kremer of Tyndall. His brother, Richard (Sharleen) Hovorka of Tabor and sister, Geneva (Melvin) Delzer of Mitchell. Sisters-in-law Margie Novak of Mitchell, Irene Hovorka of Tabor, Rose Novak of Tyndall and Margie Hovorka of Tyndall as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Herman was preceded in death by his wife Mildred in 2009; son Dale in 1994, brothers Lloyd, Willard, Alvin, Lester and Cleadues; sisters Eleanor Kielbauch and Loreen Novak and his parents.