James Tlapek

James Patrick (Pat) Tlapek of Cape Girardeau died June 24, 2016, at the age of 95 at Chateau Girardeau Health Center.

He was born Dec. 19, 1920, in St. Mary, Missouri, the youngest of seven children born to John Joseph and Annie Jokerst Tlapek, and was grandson to John and Rose Bogy Tlapek and Charles and Josephine Huttig Jokerst.

Pat married his beloved and devoted wife, Anne Madeleine Blanton, on June 23, 1956, at St. Frances Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston, Missouri, and together, they raised six children.

Pat attended grade school in St. Mary and was a graduate of Saint Louis University High School in St. Louis. While attending Loyola University in New Orleans, he enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program and earned his private pilot's license.

He received a degree in meteorology from University of Chicago.

During World War II, he served as a captain in the 8th Army Air Corps in the 18th Weather Squadron. He was stationed in Stamford and Duxford, England, from 1942 to 1945 and was honorably discharged in November 1945.

In 1948, Pat purchased Auto Tire and Parts, a company with one store located in Cape Girardeau. Pat served as president of Auto Tire and Parts for many years, and later on, he served on the company's board of directors, where he remained involved with the business, which has grown to 49 stores in four states with over 300 employees.

He held leadership positions in various organizations within the automotive parts industry, among them serving on the board of directors and as president of the Mo-Kan Automotive Wholesalers Association, and he was the recipient of the association's Man of the Year Award in 1979.

He also served on the board of directors of ASIA (Automotive Service Industry Association).

Pat was a member of the SEMO Boy Scout Council and served many years on its finance committee.

In recognition of his devotion to scouting, he received, in 1983, the Silver Beaver, which is the highest volunteer honor a local council of the Boy Scouts of America can award.

Pat was a member of the Downtown Rotary Club, where he served as director and president in 1986, and he was a Paul Harris Fellow.

He served on several boards of directors, including those of First Federal Savings and Loan of Southeast Missouri, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Saint Francis Medical Center and the Foundation, where he served on the finance committee.

Pat was appointed to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents by Gov. John Ashcroft and served as the board's president during his term.

He was also a member of the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation and Copper Dome Society.

He will be remembered for his many charitable contributions, in particular his donation to Southeast of the Tlapek General Services Building.

Pat was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, where he participated in various activities, among them Renew Seminar, Dinner for Eight and the Men's Association.

He was a 3rd-degree member of St. Vincent's Council of the Knights of Columbus.

Pat was an avid and accomplished golfer and a member of the Cape Girardeau Country Club, where he was the club champion six times.

He will be remembered for his many holes in one and for his consistently smooth, strong swing.

Survivors include his wife, Anne Blanton Tlapek; six children, Mary (Larry) Menefee of Plano, Texas, John (Alicia) Tlapek of Denver, David (Catherine) Tlapek of Aliso Viejo, California, Steve (Cheryl) Tlapek of Webster Groves, Missouri, Bob (Sarah) Tlapek of Cape Girardeau and Maureen (Pierre) Koshakji of Dallas. Grandchildren include Annie Menefee of Plano; Emily Tlapek, Kathryn Tlapek and Thomas Tlapek of Webster Groves; Alexander Koshakji, John Patrick Koshakji, James Koshakji, Grant Koshakji and Andrew Koshakji of Dallas; James Patrick (Paddy) of Denver; and Elizabeth (Libby) Tlapek of Cape Girardeau. He also is survived by Elois Tlapek, John and Claire Blanton, Joe and Nancy Blanton, Lewis and Barbara Blanton, Harry and Jane Blanton and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Preceding Pat in death were his parents; four brothers, Charles Tlapek, Joseph Tlapek, Frances Paul (Jim) Tlapek and Tom Tlapek; and two sisters, Josephine Warrington and Rose Perkinson.

The family is grateful to the staff at the Chateau Girardeau Health Center and to the loving care provided by Jenifer Edmundson and many others too numerous to mention.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. today, with parish prayers at 6 p.m. at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church of Cape Girardeau.

Burial with full military rites will follow at St. Mary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those memorials be given to St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home Sons is in charge of arrangements.