Stanley Chocholousek

Funeral services for Stanley Chocholousek were held on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Elmo Herman officiating.

Music was provided by Alex and Anna Chocholousek and Geoff Smith, soloists, and Bob Vrbsky played polka music on the accordion.

The eulogy was given by Dave Chocholousek, and Madeline Pastian was in charge of registration.

Honorary urn bearers were Stanley’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A committal service will be held in the Czech National Cemetery in Gregory, SD, at a later date with the family. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home of Gregory, SD, was in charge of arrangements.

Stanley James Chocholousek was born to Albert and Barbara (Harmacek) Chocholousek on April 10, 1924, on the family farm, homesteaded in 1907. For 97 years, he knew of no other house or lifestyle than the one provided on this family farm.

Stanley met Elma Tlustos, and they married in 1949 and celebrated their 72nd anniversary in January of this year. To this union were born three children: David, Linda, and Julie. Stanley attended a local country school through his eighth grade year, then attended Gregory High School for one year, after which he was needed on the farm. At an early age he learned the necessary workload that came with farm life.

Stanley and Elma made sure that life on the farm was not all work. They enjoyed square dancing at the Dixon Town Hall, camping and boating on the Missouri River, and attending school activities involving the kids and grandkids. Family vacations became a yearly ritual and usually centered around camping trips. Stanley and Elma were avid fans of the Gregory Gorillas and cheered them on from the bleachers, as well as from their recliners in their later years. They are lifetime members of the Gregory Athletic Club. For years, Stanley was on the Board of Directors at the Gregory Farmers Elevator as well as a board member of Landing Creek Township. Maintaining township roads was a priority…many of which he repaired himself with his own tractor and loader. Stanley was a member of the Gregory Methodist Church.

If you were to ask Stanley, he would say, “Life was good.” In younger years, he built a go-cart from the frame and axles of a Model A car. This go-cart was ridden many hours by his children and their friends. He also built a playground consisting of a teeter-totter and a merry-go-round with four metal seats on it that were taken from horse-drawn machinery. This became a very popular attraction at the Chocholousek farm.

Stanley passed away on November 23, 2021, at the age of 97 after a short stay in the Avera Gregory Hospital.

Stanley is survived by his wife, Elma; son, David (Roxie) Chocholousek of Gregory, SD; daughters: Linda (Denny) Purvis of Burke, SD, and Julie (Roger) Greer of Rapid City, SD; grandchildren: Ryan Chocholousek (Kelly), Ashley Olson (Ryan), Alex Chocholousek (Anna), Shelby Purvis (Eric), Brecken Buysse (Josh), Brady Purvis (Marissa), Mitchell Greer (Morgan), Lindsey Berg (Dan), and Jacey Smith (Stephen); 13 greatgrandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends.

Stanley was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Barbara Chocholousek, and two sisters, Evelyn Haines and Helen Dooley.