Agnes Kratochvil

Agnes Mary Machacek Kratochvil, age 100, passed away peacefully on August 25th.

Agnes was born in 1923 to Josephine (Pumper) and Frank Machacek on the family farm in Wheatland Township, Rice County. She joined her older sister Elsie (Bisek) and was later joined by siblings Bernice (Zelenka) and Norbert. For the first 70 years of her life, her birthday was celebrated on March 15th and only after finding her birth certificate did she learn it was actually March 14th.

While working at Simon’s Department Store she met her husband of 45 years, Wenceslaus John Kratochvil, when he returned from WWII. They married March 30th, 1948, and had 6 children: James (Anita), Carol Carlson (Michael), Deborah Carpentier (Steven), Barbara Prchal (Fred), John, and Theresa Mahowald (Jim). In the years that followed her family grew by 17 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly.

Agnes led a life of devotion to her family, faith and community. She was an avid baker and cook whose love language was food; there was not a chance of leaving her home without an offer of a meal or a sweet treat. Her sewing skills were phenomenal and she often put them to work making homemade clothing for her children and grandchildren. In the community she was active in various charitable organizations including the local food shelf. Agnes was an avid gardener who always had something blooming. She could always be talked into playing a round or few of any card game. Her ease at bringing people together and encouraging the positive in everyone will be missed but not forgotten.

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, her siblings, her sons-in-law, Michael Carlson and Roger Fred Prchal, grandchild, Richard Carlson and great-grandchild, Christian Prchal.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father George Grafsky officiating. Mass will be live-streamed on npcatholic.org. Visitation will take place at Bruzek Funeral Home Friday morning from 8:30 - 10:30 AM. Burial will occur at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery followed by lunch at the New Prague Golf Club.

All memorials made in Agnes’s name will be used to maintain Lucy’s Memorial Garden at Mala Strana. The family would also like to acknowledge and thank the Mala Strana Assisted Living staff and St. Croix Hospice for their loving and gentle care of our mother/grandmother/great-grandmother especially in her final days.