Howard H. Hajek

Howard H. Hajek, age 94 of Tyndall, passed away Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Good Samaritan Society - Tyndall.

Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service, Sunday, February 4 at St. Leo Catholic Church in Tyndall.

A funeral Mass will begin 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 5 at St. Leo. Interment will be in St. Leo Catholic Cemetery, Tyndall with military rites by SD Army National Guard and Tyndall VFW & American Legion.

Howard Herbert Hajek was born to William and Clara (Humpal) Hajek, September 30, 1929 on the family farm near Tabor, SD. He attended Roosevelt Country School and graduated from Tyndall High School in 1947. Howard served in the US Army from 1952-1953 with the 2^nd Infantry Division 72^nd Tank Battalion in Korea. He was on ship coming home July 1953, when the armistice was signed. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Campaign Stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Peace Medal. 

Howard married the love of his life, Mary Kriz Hill, September 7, 1979. They lived on the farm 2 miles east of Tyndall. Howard farmed in the Tyndall-Tabor area all his life. He liked raising cattle and calving out cows every spring. He was a true steward of the land. 

Howard was a member of VFW, ZCBJ Lodge and an active member of St. Leo Catholic Church, where he served as money counter for several years. 

Howard is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Mary; sister, Evelyn Cimpl; nieces and nephews, Cindy (Dennis) Tycz, Dennis (special friend, Cheri Montileaux) Carda, Jerry (Diane) Carda, Jeff (Lisa) Carda, Dave (Julie) Kriz, Tami Bryant, Melissa (Kevin) Kolda and Sandy (Chris) Porter, along with many friends and relatives.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Clara Hajek; sister, Maybelle (Jim) Headrick; niece, Catherine Carda; brothers-in-law, Eugene (Agnes) Kriz and Wes Cimpl.