Another member of the Greatest Generation is gone. Charles Homolac passed away at the age of 99, on December 30, 2019. He was born on January 26, 1920, on a farm near Munden, Kansas, the son of Oscar and Mary (Chopp) Homolac. As a young man, he helped his father farm, until the United States entered World War II. When Japan bombed Pear Harbor, Charlie enlisted, and was sent to the New Hebrides Islands in the Pacific. After the war, he was sent to Heidelberg, Germany, where he was in charge of the General’s motor pool, which employed German civilians, as well as enlisted men. One of his employees would become his father-in-law. Charlie married Else (Ellen) Stadler in Toronto, Canada, in April 1952, after he had returned stateside, and she had obtained her immigration papers. They eventually settled in Wichita, Kansas, where he was employed for 30 years by Boeing Aircraft. They made many trips back to Germany, and traveled throughout most of Europe. After retirement, Charlie and Ellen moved to Belleville, Kansas. He became active in the American Legion, the VFW, the Elks Club, and the Czech club. He was a musician at heart, and loved to sing and listen to classical music. Charlie was a gentle, kind and witty man, whose happy disposition endeared him to all who knew him.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Mary, wife Ellen, brother Fred, sisters Beatrice, Lillian Derowitsch (Charlie, Evelyn Flaska (Edward, and niece JaNeane Flaska. He is survived by his niece Pat Derowitsch Benyshek (Roger) of Littleton, Colorado, and his nephew Jim Derowitsch (Elaine) of Gold Bar, Washington. He also leaves two great nieces, Rogene Patterson and Julie Foster, and two great nephews, Dan Benyshek and Brent Derowitsch, extended relatives and many friends.
Charlie will lie in state at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home on Monday, January 6th, 2020, from 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Rosary services will be held at 5:00 pm, and the family will greet friends from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 7th, 2020, at 10:00 a.m, at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Belleville. Burial with U.S. Army Military Rites will follow at St. George’s Catholic Cemetery, rural Munden.
Memorials are requested to the Cuba American Legion, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, assisted the Homolac family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com