JoAnn Zalmanek Worthington

JoAnn Zalmanek Worthington, 95, of Caldwell, Texas, was called home and entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family.

JoAnn was the oldest of four children and was born in the Providence Community in Burleson County to Joe and Lydia Zalmanek.

Growing up during the depression, her family moved frequently to find work.

They settled in Caldwell and JoAnn graduated from Caldwell High School in 1948. She continued her education at Durham Business College in Austin.

After completing her classes, she returned to Caldwell where she met her soulmate, Marvin Worthington. Marvin and JoAnn were blessed with 71 years of marriage, and five children.

Throughout JoAnn’s life, she used her skills as a secretary working in the business office at Caldwell ISD until she retired.

JoAnn was very creative and could sew anything. She made clothing for her children as they were growing up, she even created the first ever Hornet mascot costume. She made a wedding gown, cheerleading uniforms, blankets and pillows for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Over the years, her love of sewing led her to quilting and she created many, many beautiful quilts that her family will treasure forever.

JoAnn enjoyed her tie quilting with her friends, the Killer Bees Quilt Guild, and the Memories Quilt Guild.

Gardening, canning, flower arranging, and oil painting also brought joy.

There was always a spark in her eyes of great joy when she saw her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved sharing her knowledge, teaching them new things as she watched them grow.

JoAnn also had a great love for nature. She enjoyed being outside fishing and watching the birds as they enjoyed a meal from her bird feeders.

JoAnn loved the Lord and always strived to live her life in a way that was pleasing to Him. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Caldwell, where over the years she served on various committees and sang in the church choir.

JoAnn was very proud of her Czech heritage, she was a member of the Czech museum in Caldwell where she enjoyed giving tours and singing with the Burleson County Czech Singers at the Kolache Festival.

She also volunteered at the Caldwell Christian Care Center and was a member of the VFW Post 4458 Ladies Auxiliary.

JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents Joe and Lydia (Sontag) Zalmanek, her loving husband Marvin, their youngest son, John, and her brothers and sistersin- law JW (Barbara) Zalmanek, Charles (Jeannie) Zalmanek; brother-inlaw, Bill Dillard, Louise Worthington, Jane (Bill) Yates and Betty (Harvey) Samford.

She is survived by her son Michael, and his wife Debbie Worthington of Hempstead; daughters, Shirle and her husband Kverin Urbanovsky of Caldwell, Jan and her husband Pat Hoffman of Caldwell and Jeanie Marshall of Milano. She is also survived by her ten grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren as well as her sister Beverly Dillard of Bryan and several nieces and nephews.

JoAnn was loved dearly and leaves behind a great legacy. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in JoAnn’s honor to the Burleson County Czech Heritage Society, P.O. Box 493, Caldwell, Texas or VFW Post 4458 in Caldwell.

Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.

PHILLIPS & LUCKEY FUNERAL HOME 404 W. Buck St. Caldwell, Tx 77836 979-567-3232