Lester James Woytek, 69, of Hallettsville, passed away Feb. 17, 2012. He was born on Nov. 1, 1942 to Paul & Selma Quitta Woytek in Lavaca County, Texas. He married Bernice Brown on June 15, 1963 in Hallettsville. He was a member of the Murchison Masonic Lodge #80, S.P.J.S.T., and Czech Moravian Brethren Church of Vestin.

Lester Woytek was one of five sons born to Paul and Selma Woytek. Lester started 1st grade by attending the Vestin school and the next year transferred to Hallettsville Public school.

Lester grew up on a farm just about a mile away from the Vestin Church where he learned to work hard farming, hunting and fishing. As a kid Lester got the nickname Gelley, nobody could tell us why. Lester liked football and baseball as a kid and on weekends some of the kids gathered in Sublime to play baseball. Hunting and fishing with his brothers and friends was no doubt on the top of his list. Lester was accidentally shot in the back with a 22 rifle during an early year squirrel hunt, but that did not slow his passion.

Lester's hunting passions included crow calling, coon hunting with dogs, predator calling, hog hunting, turkey hunting, and arrowhead hunting. After getting married in 1963 to wife Bernice, and the birth of his first son Kevin, Lester started his working career in the Oil Field, working on drilling rigs. After a year or so he moved on to welding and became a professional at it. He taught all three of his sons how to weld, and son Kevin followed in his footsteps. Lester traveled to work welding in many states including South Carolina, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Mississippi, and made many friends along the way. Lester ended his Welding career in 2005 after his body could no longer take the long day's abuse and traveling from town to town.

Lester had a local softball team during the early days, called the Wooly Boogers; they played in the Hallettsville Men's League and surrounding towns' tournaments. The team won second place in 1974 at the famous Andy Rice Softball Tournament.

Lester loved growing vegetables in his garden. He and his brothers also commercially farmed watermelons, tomatoes, potatoes and other vegetables. Later on is his life he also raised cattle on the home place. He also liked helping his son Michael raise show steers. They raised two Grand Champion steers while son Mike was in the FFA. He was very proud of those accomplishments with his son.

Lester's real joy was deer hunting with his wife, sons, brothers and friends. There were very few days at the Woytek house that went by that hunting or fishing was not brought up in the conversation. Lester enjoyed going on hunting trips to West Texas, South Texas, Texas Hill country, Colorado, New Mexico, Old Mexico, and Utah. Most of our family vacations were hunting out of Lavaca County and we all loved it.

Lester also loved to set trot lines for big catfish in nearby rivers and lakes. He also loved taking family and friends to the Carancahua River and Bay to fish for Flounders and big Reds. Just taking his grandkids hunting and fishing was a big thing to Lester in his later years. For about twenty years Lester served the public by teaching Hunters Educations classes for the Texas Parks and Wildlife. He really enjoyed working with the young hunters and promoting hunting safety. Lester was also a proud member of the Honey Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Some of Lester's other passions in life included watching all of his grandkids play sports. He loved spending time with Bernice traveling and going out to eat. He also loved to cook for others. Lester also loved the association as a member of the Murchison Masonic Lodge #80 and supporting the communities' needs.

Lester is survived by: his wife Bernice; 3 sons, Kevin D. Woytek, Randy Woytek & wife Tammy, and Mike Woytek & wife Tanya, of Hallettsville; 2 brothers, Albin "Sonny" Woytek & wife Emma Jean, and Harvey Woytek & Betty of Hallettsville; and 8 grandchildren, Brandon, Dusty, Tiffani, Carley, Randall, Courtney, Tait, and Shaye Woytek.

Lester was preceded in death by: his parents; and 2 brothers, Marvin and Paulie Woytek.

Funeral Service: 10 am, Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at Czech Moravian Brethren Church of Vestin. Visitation: 4 pm, Sunday at Kubena Funeral Home. Prayer Service: 6 pm, Sunday at Kubena Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Darrell Woytek, Fred Kloppenburg, Harold Kloppenburg, Brandon Woytek, Albin Woytek, and Allen Woytek. Officiate: Rev. Dr. Mark Labaj. Memorials: Czech Moravian Brethren Church, Arabia Shrine Hospital Benefit, or Donor's Choice. Burial: Vestin Cemetery.