Czech (Libuse) Cemetery, Rapides Parish Louisiana Submitted by Jane Parker Mcmanus ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Libuse built its first cemetery in an area inundated by water during the rainy season. On one occasion, the settlers could not get to the cemetery for a burial, so Mr. Joseph Goldstein, a Czech pioneer of the Philadelphia Community, gave an acre of his property to be used for the Libuse Czech Cemetery in 1921. That burial ground has been expanded to almost four acres and is still used today (1). To see a complete history, see the National Czech Cemetery Listing. In order to aid researchers who cannot read the old language, translations were made from Czech to English. Although the epitaphs were translated as found, a complete list of all words and their meaning can be found at the conclusion of the two listings. We are indebted to three women from Texas who made these translations possible: Mrs. Leonita Pavlas Robinson and Mrs. Agnes Zamykal Krhovjak of Flatonia; and Mrs. Cynthia Robinson Baca of Conroe. Translation was based on the information and inscriptions the authors provided. As some of the tombstones were old and very difficult to read, some mistakes may be unavoidable. Extra care was taken with the unfamiliar Czech inscriptions, and any errors were hopefully minimal and unintentional. JPM & MPP Directions: Several miles east on LA Hwy. 28 from Pineville, turn right on Parish Road 1205 in the Libuse Community. Go 4.0 miles on this road to the Philadelphia Baptist Church. The Libuse Czech Cemetery is on the left across the street from the church, adjacent to the Philadelphia Baptist Church Cemetery. It is fenced and well maintained. A driveway divides the cemetery down the center, and tombstone inscriptions were recorded from the back of the cemetery by Mary Parker Partain, May 1992, submitted by Jane P. McManus 22 October 2000. A sign on the gatepost reads: "This cemetery land donated by Joseph Goldstein 1921" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Left side of the driveway] Lachney, Clarence Joseph - 29 Dec 1908/23 Aug 1991 [funeral marker and wooden cross] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goldstein, Elma B. - 6 Jul 1906/24 Dec 1987 Goldstein, Anton Tony - 16 Jul 1905/3 Sep 1983 [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tucek, Charles - 20 Feb 1907/11 Feb 1981, Pvt. US Army WW2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hazmuka, Henry - 22 Jun 1912/[no dates] Hazmuka, Jarmila M. - 8 Jan 1925/25 Mar 1978 Mother [Double Stone] - Married 17 Apr 1943 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adams, Kathleen Gayle Krist - 2 Feb 1937/[no date] Adams, Robert Lee - 14 Jan 1931/18 Feb 1989 [Masonic Emblem] [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aymond, Marie C. - 31 Oct 1948/[no dates] Aymond, Percy L. - 22 Dec 1925/2 Nov 1981 [Double Stone] - Married 5 Mar 1965 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kramel, Josie Kotar - [no dates] Kramel, Elmer Edward - 25 Jun 1905/17 Dec 1981 Sgt. 104th "Timber Wolf" Inf. Div. US Army Lt. CCC [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuma, Charles Albert Sr. - 13 Nov 1914/3 Jan 1991 [funeral marker] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richey, Cleo Cotton - 21 Sep 1912/1 Jan 1975 Richey, Helon Kramel - 11 Dec 1903/24 Sep 1974 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susek, Anna K. - 10 Nov 1894/19 Apr 1982 Odpocivej v Pokoji den Vzpominky Lrasme Zustavaji Susek, Frank J. - 27 Oct 1894/1 Dec 1973 Odpocivej V Pokoji [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuma, Ruby L. Sharbono - 15 Mar 1919/15 May 1986 Mother Tuma, Jerry J. - 14 Aug 1921/[no dates] Father [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sasser, Henry Herbert - 6 Jan 1908/14 Mar 1975, US Army Father [Double Stone - 2nd side not engraved]] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kramel, Glenn Woodrow - 15 Jun 1912/16 Dec 1970 Father [Double Stone - 2nd side not engraved] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuma, Emil Sr. - 11 Oct 1880/14 Feb 1975 Father U Drahe maminky nasel krasny ser "my Dear Father, ?found beautiful dream"? Tuma, Veronika Kunc - 5 Aug 1886/27 Apr 1970 Mother Draha nase maminko sfete sladce "Dear mother sleep sweetly" [Double Stone] - [translation already on stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brown, Anna R. Ploc - 28 Jun 1914/[no dates] Ploc, Josie F. Hrubes - 28 Oct 1885/6 Feb 1985 Mother [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prochaska, Anna - 25 May 1905/25 Feb 1976 Mother Prochaska, Joseph - 6 Mar 1903/[no dates] Father [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flournoy, James Mack - 5 Sep 1932/21 Oct 1989 [Paralyzed Veterans of America Emblem] Flournoy, Bettie Prochaska - 11 Jun 1937/[no dates] [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Right side of driveway] - Row 1: Prochaska, Charles - 1905/1977 Father [Double Stone - 2nd side not engraved] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kramel, Mary - 15 Sep 1907/[no dates] Kramel, Frank W. - 8 Aug 1902/24 Mar 1981 [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Decamp, Viola K. - 15 Sep 1900/30 Jul 1972 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hazmuka, Mary - [no dates] Hazmuka, Frank 2 Jul 1896/21 Nov 1969 [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foral, Emilie "Babi" [Grandmother] C. - 2 Oct 1897/16 Sep 1968 Mother Foral, Cyril "Pappaw" [Grandfather] - 5 Jul 1881/13 Aug 1970 Father Mily Rodice Odpocivejte V Pokoji Po Zivotnim Boji "Dear Parents, You all rest in peace, for lifetime struggle" [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Safarik, Zdenka B. - 15 Jun 1916/[no dates] Zde Odpociva Odpocivej V Pokoji Safarik, Carl F. - 26 Aug 1908/10 Sep 1988 Zde Odpociva Odpocivej V Pokoji [Identical stones] - "Here rests" "Rest in peace" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brown, Barney M. - 6 Feb 1914/25 Feb 1989 Father Brown, Louise G. - 22 Oct 1918/3 Mar 1967 Mother [Identical stones] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goldstein, Josephine K. - 29 Jun 1882/3 Dec 1960 Goldstein, Joseph - 13 Oct 1875/5 Dec 1966 [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prochaska, Otto - 13 Jul 1909/28 Sep 1968 Daddy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pospisil, Laura - 1 Feb 1920/20 Feb 1960 Pospisil, William - 21 Jun 1905/22 Sep 1962 Pospisil, Bob Louis - 26 Aug 1965/22 Nov 1977 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuma, Thomas - 10 Aug 1936/16 Feb 1964, LA 1 Lt. US Army -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pospisil, Mary - zemrela 18 cervence 1958, 68 roku stari [died Jul, 68 years old] Zde Odpociva Odpocivej V Pokoji "Here rests" "Rest in peace" Pospisil, William - zamrel 5 listopadu, 77 roku stari 1954 [died Nov, 77 years old] Odpocivej v Pokoji "Rest in peace" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 2: Hazmuka, Mary Josephine - 24 Nov 1913/17 Jan 1991 [funeral marker] Hazmuka, Charlie - 11 Nov 1897/5 Jun 1977 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mikulec, John - 14 Jan 1886/9 Jan 1954 Mikulec, Anna B. - 18 Jun 1886/19 Mar 1954 [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kramel, Mary - 12 Aug 1871/29 Dec 1961 Kramel, Edward - 12 Sep 1869/11 May 1950, Pvt. 1st SD Inf. SP. AM. War -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vlach, Vaclav - 28 Jul 1876/10 Feb 1953 Vlach, Anna - 28 Aug 1880/14 Dec 1960 [Identical stones] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hajek, Albin - 9 Feb 1888/3 Jan 1957, LA Pvt. Quartermaster Corp WW1 Hajek, Jennie - 24 May 1888/8 Jul 1974 [Double Stone] - Odpocivej v Pokoji "Rest in peace" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Krist, Jerry Sr. - 11 Aug 1910/1 May 1983 "Pops" Krist, Frances B. - 1 Aug 1918/[no dates] "Ma" [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reichl, Frank J. - nar 22 Feb 1885/zemrel 24 Aug 1974 [born/died] Reichl, Yohanna - nar 3 Mar 1884/zemrela 27 Dec 1959 [born/died] [Double Stone] - Odpocivejte v Pokoji "Rest in peace" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Safarik, Karel F. - nar 14 duben 1882/zemrel 19 cervence 1954 [born Apr/died Jul] Zde Odpociva Odpocivej v Pokoji "Here rests" "Rest in peace" Safarik, Marie - nar leden 16 1886/zemrela mai 3 1958 [born 16 Jan/died 3 ?May?] Zde Odpociva Odpocivej v Pokoji "Here rests" "Rest in peace" [Identical stones] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Docekal, John - 17 Nov 1886/21 Apr 1950 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Masopust, Anna H. - 26 Sep 1902/24 Dec 1969 Mother -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steigel, Mike - 16 Feb 1893/29 Apr 1952 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holy, Charles - 27 Jan 1905/4 Nov 1954 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filasek, Barbara Gernert - 3 Dec 1884/21 Apr 1956 Filasek, Iganc - 17 Jan 1877/20 Jan 1958 Rayburn, Agnes Filasek - 25 Mar 1911/14 Aug 1961 Stockman, Ann Filasek - 26 Sep 1914/14 Apr 1971 Gernertt, Joseph F. - 22 Oct 1895/2 Jan 1978 Filasek, Jerry - 23 Sep 1921/17 Jul 1982 [6 Identical stones] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 3: [from the left] Stepan, Joe J. - 1877/1959 Stepan, Josie K. - 1877/1964 [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stepan, Bohumil S. - 25 Aug 1904/22 Mar 1958 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stybr, Anna P. - Narozena Rijen 20 1888/Zemrela Cerven 9 1948 [born Oct/died Jun] Stybr, Alois "Narozen" - kveten 20 1886/zemrel cervenec 18 1945 [born May/died Jul] [Identical stones] - Spi Sladce "Sleep sweetly" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hazmuka, Frank Sr. - leden [Jan] 20 1870/unor [Feb] 26 1953 Odpocivej v Pokoji "Rest in peace" Hazmuka, Karoline Klapp - leden [Jan]28 1872/rijen [Oct] 28 1944 Wife of Frank Hazmuka Sr. Odpocivej V Pokoji "Rest in peace" Byla verna zena, Hodna matka, A pratelska vsem "Was a faithful wife, good mother, and friend to all" Melichar, Joseph - 31 Aug 1880/25 Oct 1942 Zmek, Infant daughter of M&M J. H. Zmek - 23 May 1942 Zmek, Joseph - 15 Jun 1883/2 Oct 1940 Mother Zmek, Anna - 21 May 1885/7 Oct 1985 [Double Stone] [Note: Mother is on Joseph's stone] Kostak, Anton - 3 Jun 1885/2 Jun 1958 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chambers, Rose Baroch - 10 Oct 1903/11 Oct 1986 Mother -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baroch, Marie - 8 Apr 1875/5 Oct 1956 Baroch, Anton - 1874/1953 [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tucek, Marie - 1858/1940 62 Lete Spojeni Na Zemi Vecne Spojni-pod Zemi Tucek, Josef - 1856/1940 "62 years together on earth, forever together under ground" [Double Stone] - Zde Adpociva Ji Manzele "Here rest Husband & Wife" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holy, Anton - Dec 1859/Aug 1939 Holy, Elvira - Aug 1873/Sep 1963 [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nickel, Charles - 25 Jan 1880/20 Oct 1949 Nickel, Elizabeth - 14 Feb 1886/19 Jan 1956 [Identical stones] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prochaska, Joseph - 6 Mar 1877/1 Jun 1936 Father Prochaska, Anna Kostak - 29 May 1885/2 Feb 1973 Mother [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 4: [from the right] Everett, Jarine Guillory - 15 Apr 1918/30 Apr 1987 Brejcha, Anna - 26 Jan 1892/22 Aug 1974 Pacholik, Joseph - 13 Oct 1888/22 Oct 1965 [Masonic Emblem] Pacholik, Jennie Krulish Hromadka - 24 Apr 1884/30 Dec 1970 Hromodka , Frank Sr. - 21 Sep 1885/13 Jan 1929 [Triple stone]["H" on vase, "P" on 2nd vase] Spi Sladce "Sleep sweetly" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Voda, Frank - 21 May 1862/4 Mar 1929 Voda, Frances - 12 Nov 1865/28 Feb 1954 [Identical Stones] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holy, Emma Nickel - 19 Jul 1910/29 Apr 1932 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcek, Christina E. - 24 May 1895 [only date] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foral, Cecilie Holik, Wife of Cyril Foral - 19 Mar 1881/11 Mar 1936 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nickels, Paul Edward - 1 May 1946/28 Nov 1985 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zabavsky, Helen - 15 Oct 1913/17 Jun 1936 Daughter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zabavsky, Julia K. - 24 Dec 1875/10 Apr 1949 Mother Zabavsky, John - 18 Jun 1869/26 Oct 1957 Father [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Korhn, Albena Z. - 8 Jun 1905/1 May 1974 / Mother/Grandmother -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zabasky, Alan Neal, Infant son of John & Corinne Zabasky - 19 Sep 1945 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kostak, Clara - died 6 Sep 1932 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuma, Infant son of M&M Emile Tuma Jr. - 18 Mar 1933 Tuma, Jeri Lynn, Infant daughter of M&M Jerry Tuma - 1 Oct 1946 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gernert, Marie, Mother of Barbara Filasek and Joe Gernert - [no dates] Gernert, Kasper, Father of Barbara Filasek and Joe Gernert - [no dates] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vit, Emily - 16 Feb 1937/29 Oct 1945 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David, Marie - zemrela 24 cervence 1949, ve stari 72 roku [died Jul , was 72 years old] David, Frank - zemrela 28 duben 1950, ve stari 80 roku [died Apr, was 80 years old] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kotar, Pete - 19 Jun 1882/11 Aug 1951 Kotar, Ursula - 11 Oct 1895/27 Jan 1965 [Double Stone] - [on footstone: U. Ule K.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kotar, Mildred - 24 Sep 1924 [only date] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young, Marie Kotar - 3 Jan 1927 [only date] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 5: [from front fence] Cisack, John - 24 Jun 1868/22 May 1951 Cisak, [sic] Agata Masapust - 1876/1938 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vit, John - 8 Dec 1886/8 Dec 1975 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unreadable funeral & concrete marker, or marker with nameplate missing] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tucek, Frances - 30 May 1881/28 Aug 1928 Mother -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kramel, Marie Frances - 1 Aug 1914/9 Jan 1924 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silhavy, V. A. - nar 1 cerv 1921/zemr 3 leden 1923, Dgera [born Jun/died Jan] [?cannot translate Dgera?] Spi Sladce Nas Angelicha Anezka "Sleep sweetly our angel Agnes" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kostalek, Fr. - 19 9/11 21 - 19 12/29 22 [dates are as written on tombstone, probably 11 Sep 1921/29 Dec 1922] Spi Sladce Nas Milacku "Sleep sweetly our darling" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kohout, Joseph - 5 Oct 1922, 73 yrs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Koncinsky, Anna Bak - narozena 20 rijen 1882/zemrela 6 brezen 1963 [born Oct/died Mar] Draha Maminko, Odpocivej v Pokoji, Po zivotnim Boji "Dear Mother, rest in peace, for lifetime struggle" Koncinsky, Rozalie Legner - narozena 1881/zemrela 5 brezen (Mar) 1922 Wife of Joseph Koncinsky [born/died Mar] Spi Sladce "Sleep sweetly" Koncinsky, Joseph J. - narozen 1 rijna 1878/zemrel 12 leden 1961 [born Oct/died Jan] Spi Sladce Tatinku "Sleep sweetly Auntie" [marble slabs on a common base] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vlach, Anna - 1908/1925 Zde Odpociva "Here rests" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tucek, V. - 18 2/20 80 - 19 5/12 21 [probably 20 Feb 1880/12 May 1921] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cizak, Rosy - zem 5/30 1922, ves Stari 56 roku [died 30 May, was 56 years old] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Potmesil, Josephine - 15 Mar 1885/13 Oct 1923 Potmesil, Joe - 16 Jun 1907/14 Aug 1928 Potmesil, Libby - 10 Feb 1909/4 Sep 1944 Potmesil, Frank - 15 Mar 1879/1 Jan 1957 Potmesil, Laddie - 15 Mar 1911 [only date] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Praska, Donald James - 23 Feb 1929/19 Jul 1983 "Daddy" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filasek, Mary Barrett - 6 Apr 1930/29 Jul 1989 [funeral marker] Filasek, Albert C. - 8 Sep 1919/16 May 1992 [funeral marker] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some Czech Word Translations: Note, some months are not capitalized unless they are at the beginning of a sentence. January = leden/ledna narozen = born (male) February = unor/unoru narozena = born (female) March = brezen/brezna zemrel = died (male) April = duben zemrela = died (female) May = kveten/kvetna roku = year June = cerven/cerna July = cervenee po boji = after struggle August = srpna drahi muj manzeli - my dear husband September = zari odpocivej v pokoji = rest in peace October = rijen zde odpociva = here rests November = lispopadu stari = age/aged December = prosince spi sladce = sleep sweetly ozena v Pilsner, vcechach = born in Pilsner, Czech Country - [could be Czechoslovakia; Czech means Bohemians, Moravians, & Slovaks] mily rodice = dear parents po zivotnim boji = for lifetime struggle/battle/war nas milacku = Our darling nas Angelicha = Our angel Draha maminko = Dear Mother tatinku = Auntie -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1Walker, Rosie Ann Locker, "A History of the Rural Schools of the Czech Communities of Kolin and Libuse", Dissertation for Northwestern State University of Louisiana, 25 August 1986.