Richard Ernest Sestak

Richard Ernest Sestak was born on July 12, 1934, in the Bellemont community near Prague, Oklahoma, and departed this life on Sunday, October 14, 2007, in Prague, Oklahoma, at the age of 73. Richard, a long-time Prague resident, was the son of Ernest and Anna Klabzuba Sestak. He attended Fairview School and graduated from Prague High School with the class of 1952 where he was a FFA member, serving as chapter president and receiving the Jr. Master Farmers Degree. In 1957, he graduated from Oklahoma State University with Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and received a Master of Science degree in Agriculture Education in 1965. Richard proudly served his country in the United States Army, 72nd Medical Detachment, VFI in Germany from 1957 to 1960. He married Valdene May Kozel on March 23, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Richard worked for the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service for 29 years. As an educator and agriculturalist, he worked with thousands of people during his tenure in Extension. Richard was concerned with helping people to help themselves by increasing their agricultural production enterprises through technical and management skills to realize a higher standard of living. He encouraged creativity and motivation of young people through 4-H youth development programs to help them become more productive citizens and role models for their community. He served as an Assistant County Agent in Nowata and Pottawatomie counties, and County Agricultural Agent and County Extension Director in Jefferson and Canadian counties. He received many awards including: Oklahoma Plant Food Education Service Award, Canadian County Outstanding 4-H Family, El Reno Jr. College Honorary Club Member, Oklahoma Association of County Agricultural Agents Distinguished Service Award, National Association of County Agricultural Agents Distinguished Service Award, and the Canadian County Farm Bureau Dedicated Service Award. He retired from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in 1990. He was a member of the Prague First Baptist Church, Prague Lions Club, WFLA Lodge #46, Retired Extension Agents Association, and the Lincoln County and Oklahoma Cattlemen?s Associations. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George Joe Sestak; and sister-in-law, Wanda Kozel. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Valdene Sestak of the home; sons and daughters-in-law, Ross and Krista Sestak of Prague, Robert and Stacey Sestak of Broken Arrow; 6 grandchildren, Jarrod, Jacob & Lilyana Sestak of Prague, Brady, Alyxandra, & Jack Sestak of Broken Arrow; brother-in-law, Karl Kozel of Shawnee; sister-in-law, Linda Sestak Harjo of Sasawaka; and many other relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to the Building Fund at the First Baptist Church in Prague, OK, Rt 3 Box 243, Prague, OK 74864; the WFLA Lodge #46 Restoration Fund, NBU 5702, Prague, OK 74864; or the Lincoln County 4-H Scholarship Fund , Lincoln County 4-H, 811 Manvel, Suite 2, Chandler, OK 74834.