Charles Robert Bohuslavicky

Charles Robert Bohuslavicky, a long time resident of Prague, passed away on Monday, November 14, 2022 in Shawnee, at the age of 81. Charles was born in Prague, Oklahoma on April 28, 1941 to Edward Bohuslavicky and Lillian June (Ziegler) Marler. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Cecil Marler, even taking his stepfather's name for many years, Charles Robert Marler. As a child, Charles attended Prague Elementary School, Shawnee, Hominy and later graduated from Pawhuska High School. While in High School, Charles was in the band, where he played the cornett. He then attended OSU-Okmulgee, where he studied engineering. Charles also proudly served his country by serving in the United States Army Reserves.

Charles began his career as the City Engineer for Del City, where he worked on many projects, including the on and off ramp systems as Interstate 40 was built. He then relocated to Houston, where he worked at various engineering companies, including, J. Ray McDermott and Bechtel Engineering. After relocating to Prague, Charles served as the executive director for the Prague Housing Authority for many years, where he later retired to his farm. He and his wife, Doris, started their own stained-glass business in their garage. They also owned thirteen Old English Sheep Dogs, which they showed and bred.

In 1982, Charles returned to Oklahoma and purchased a farm. He built a barn to accommodate their dogs and their stained-glass business. Charles always wanted to create a stained-glass window in a church. He later had that opportunity, when he was commissioned by Neoma Bateson, to create a stained-glass window in memory of her husband and their son. That window can be seen at the First Christian Church of Prague.

Charles was very active in the Prague Community. For many years, he was a member of the Prague Art Guild, when the Prague Art Guild constructed the gazebo at the Prague Park, he and Doris designed and constructed the stained-glass light panel and donated it for the gazebo. He was also very proud of his Czech heritage. He served for many years on the Kolache Festival Planning Committee and was the committee president for three years. He was very proud the year his persimmon wine and his klobase won first prize. Charles was a member of the Praha Polka Band, with Mike Moore. They played several Kolache Festivals and many dances at the Bohemian Hall. He also proudly oversaw the Czech National Cemetery in Prague for many years. He took great pride in making sure the cemetery was well kept and that flags were placed on veteran's graves each Memorial Day.

Charles loved to fish, especially with his "fishing buddy," Stacy Warner Vrba, his stepdaughter, and later, with his grandsons when they would visit each summer. He was also an avid metal detectorist. He was involved in the Oklahoma Historical Society's project at Honey Springs Battlefield. He was a founding member of the Twin Territories Metal Detecting Club in Oklahoma City, where he was the president for many years, and a long-time member of the Indian Territories Metal Detecting Club in Tulsa and the the Route 66 Metal Detecting Club in Stroud. He traveled to various states to participate in metal detecting "hunts" and was known to have metal detected nonstop in icy cold temperatures and stiff winds for seven hours straight, only stopping because the batteries in his detector were dead.

Charles also enjoyed polka dancing and eating. If there was a polka festival anywhere close, he was there. As Charles liked to say, "Most people eat to live, I live to eat!" and he certainly loved his wife's cooking the best.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Cecil Marler; an infant daughter, Lori Ann Bohuslavicky; his half brother, Eddie Earl Bohuslavicky and his half sister, Patricia Ann Bohuslavicky.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Doris Fearing Bohuslavicky of the home; a son, Robert Bohuslavicky of Houston, Texas; two daughters, Deborah C Leichliter and her husband, Chris of Sunburst, Montana and Patricia S. Bonar and her husband, James, of Katy, Texas; a stepdaughter, Stacy Warner Vrba and her husband, Warren, of Katy, Texas; a half brother, Clifford Marler and his wife, Marion of Oklahoma City; a sister-in-law, Harlene Simpson and her husband, Mark, of Houston, Texas; nine grandchildren, Kelli Gail Evans-Adams, Todd, Cheyana and Hunter Leichliter, Melissa Melnar, Jay Bonar, Harrison, Greyson and Coleton Vrba; eight great-grandchildren, Chase, Wyatt, Krystopher, Madison, Macy, Max, Alexandra, Kyle and one great great-grandchild, Everly Jo; two aunts, Charliene Ziegler Kimery and Mary Bohuslavicky Fulton; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Lucy Fearing and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Charles' honor to the Czech National Cemetery in Prague. Czech Cemetery Association, NBU 2606, Prague, OK 74864.