The Reverend Don Douglas Vlasak

 The Reverend Don Douglas Vlasak, age 94, passed away on October 15, 2023.  Visitation will begin on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Emanuel’s Lutheran Church in Seguin followed by a funeral at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Marcus Bigott officiating.  A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.  Graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. at the Moulton City Cemetery in Moulton, Texas. For those who desire, the services can be live-streamed at www.YouTube.com/@emanuelslutheranseguin.

Don was born on February 22, 1929, to James and Libbie (Svoboda) Vlasak in San Antonio, TX.  As the Great Depression started, his family moved several times and ended up in Corpus Christi, TX.  An avid student of science, young Don eventually came to know the Lord.  He was baptized and confirmed by the Rev. Clarence Bohls.  At Texas Lutheran College, he met his beloved wife, Elinor Wehe.  They were married at Grace Lutheran Church, San Antonio, TX in 1954 just as he started his 4th year at Wartburg Theological Seminary.  

He was ordained at his home church, First Lutheran in Corpus Christi, TX on June 19, 1955, and soon after accepted his first pastoral call to La Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey in Alice, TX.  Through the years he, with immeasurable support from his wife, served Lutheran churches in Alice, Freer, Mathis, Tynan, Shelby, Fayetteville, Priddy, Comanche, and Rosebud, TX.  A true servant of the Lord, he was also an on-call hospital chaplain at Scott and White in Temple, TX.

He maintained a license as an emergency medical technician after serving on the volunteer ambulance service in the rural community of Industry, TX.  Don had many hobbies including gardening, tree grafting, restoring antique cars, cultivating native grasses, and refurbishing pipe and reed organs.  He had a lifelong love of languages.  He spoke fluent Spanish, passable German, and some Greek.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Elinor Louise (Wehe) Vlasak and his sister, Joyce Margaret (Vlasak) Haase.

He will be sorely missed by his survivors which include his children, Dr. Gloria Joyce Haug and husband Darrell, Dr. Mark Charles Vlasak and wife Camille, RN, Donna Louise Vlasak, RN, FNP and spouse Cynthia Hinojosa, RN, Dr. Janice Emelia Weinman Seider and husband Kevin, Dr. Marie Elaine Vlasak and husband Dr. Thang Pham, and James Louis Vlasak and wife Jodi; grandchildren, David Aaron Haug and wife Kelli, Erin Lindsey Vlasak, Lauren Michelle Haug Lys and husband Rev. Jonathan, Logan Douglas Vlasak, Connor Van Vlasak, Dr. Janelle Brooke Weinman, Joshua Lance Vlasak, Kathryn Marie Ngoc Pham, Johanna Leigh Vlasak, and Matthew Victor Ngoc Pham; great-grandchildren, Micah Gilek Haug, Jonah Edward Lys, Jacey Alexandria Haug, and Lucas Mitchell Lys; brother, Lanny Vlasak and wife Marge;  four nieces; two nephews; and numerous other family members and many friends.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all of Don’s caregivers, especially to Peggy Sheridan, friend of the family, and Matthew Pham, Don’s grandson, for attending to his daily needs during the last year.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Vlasak Family Endowed Scholarship for Student Aid at Texas Lutheran University, 1000 W. Court St., Seguin, Texas, 78155, or to Emanuel’s Lutheran Church, 206 N. Travis, Seguin, Texas, 78155.

 Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, www.treshewell.com.