Bessie M. Vavak

NORFOLK -- Funeral service and celebration of life for Bessie Marie (Boubin) Vavak, 85, of Norfolk will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Rev. Brian Johnson will be officiating the service. In memory of Bessie, donations to the Hope Fund at Faith Regional are welcomed, https://www.frhs.org/ways-give/foundation/hope-fund/. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Inurnment will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Norfolk. Bessie passed away on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at the Heritage of Bel Air Nursing Home in Norfolk. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Bessie was born on February 11, 1940, in Stanton County to Bohumil and Anna (Rosa) Boubin. She graduated from Liberty Consolidated School near Madison. On August 16, 1961, she married Thomas (Tom) F. Vavak at the Presbyterian Church in Madison. She met Tom at a polka dance at King's Ballroom in Norfolk. Tom and Bessie initially settled in Plainview and later moved to Norfolk in 1964. Polka dancing and listening to polka music remained a favorite activity during their 61-year marriage. Bessie had a home daycare while raising her three children. She also worked in various food service jobs over her life, most recently at Arby's, Bel Air Nursing Home, and the Norfolk Sunset Plaza Mall food court. In her later years Bessie enjoyed painting and word searches, which she said calmed her mind. She loved showing off her most recent paintings to anyone who would stop by her home. During her lifetime she traveled to all 48 contiguous states and Canada and Mexico. Bessie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk and volunteered in its Nursery for over 20 years. Bessie is survived by her daughters Nancy (Andy) Praeuner of Norfolk, NE and Amy Vavak (James Bullis) of Maynard, MA; grandchildren and their spouses Ryan Praeuner, Allison (Brandon) Dike, Luke (Taylor Olson) Praeuner, Gabe Bullis, and Mila Bullis; siblings and their spouses Mary Korth, Leona Hake, Pat (Norbert) Schmit, Ruby Bayer, Emil (Vivian) Boubin; and many nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Tom; beloved son Randy; siblings and their spouses Francis Bayer, Edward Boubin, Emily Boubin, Robert (Violet) Boubin, Merlin Hake, Darlene (Rudy) Jaroska, Helen (Hartley) Konerza, John Korth, Merlin Hake, and an infant sister Emily. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

Tributes

Bessie M. Vavak

February 11, 1940 - September 4, 2025