Ervan Zouzalik

Ervan Zouzalik passed away peacefully on November 4, 2022, and went to his heavenly home at the age of 86.

Ervan was born in Flatonia, Texas on September 24, 1936. He was a 1955 graduate of Flatonia High School where he met the love of his life, Jeanette Zapalac. They were married on July 1, 1956, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flatonia.

Colonel Zouzalik was a Distinguished Military Graduate of Texas A&M University receiving Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Industrial Education and Journalism in 1960. He completed his Master of Business Administration at the University of Texas at Austin in 1969.

He served as a Platoon Leader in Germany, a Company Commander in Vietnam, a Battalion Commander with the First Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, and a Brigade Commander with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. Colonel Zouzalik also served three years at the Pentagon and three years with the Defense Logistics Agency in the Washington D.C. area. His last assignment was as Commander of the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Included in his military schooling were the Artillery Officer Basic Course, Command and General Staff College, and the U. S. Army War College. He retired in May 1984, following 24 years of active duty.

Colonel Zouzalik's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Award, Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars, Air Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Palm, and the Vietnam Service Medal. In 2015, he was inducted into the Army’s Quartermaster Corps Hall of Fame, at Fort Lee, Virginia.

After a notable military career, Ervan and Jeanette ran the Palace Courts Motel, now called Town Cottages, in Flatonia, Texas.  Ervan then completed a short stint at the Flatonia Livestock Commission, before starting his banking career at Flatonia State Bank. Ervan worked to establish a holding company with the support of Edwin Zapalac, President and CEO of Flatonia State Bank, so that the bank could grow. He loved the banking business and soon found a place among the associations. Ervan was elected Chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) from 2002-2003 and served as an IBAT Director for 14 years. He was a proven leader in his career, serving as the Director of the Flatonia State Bank, Vice Chairman of the Board at Flatonia State Bank, President and CEO of South Central Texas Bancshares, President and CEO of Central Texas Bank, and Chairman of Texas United Bancshares. He also served on the board of Texas Independent Bank.

Ervan was also an active member of the Flatonia community. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, president of the Sacred Heart Cemetery Association, and a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. He was president of the Rotary Club for two years, a member of the American Legion, and president of the Chamber of Commerce.  He started the Veteran Museum in Flatonia as part of the E.A Arnim Archives and Museum, of which Ervan was a catalyst and founding member.

Ervan and Jeanette loved to travel and as a young couple journeyed across Europe in a Volkswagen Beetle. They enjoyed cruises with his brother Vic and family, traveling to the Holy Land, and taking weekend trips to Lake LBJ with their grandkids. Ervan traveled to Russia with business leaders through the organization People to People, and he and Jeanette explored the Czech Republic to meet with distant relatives and research their heritage.

His greatest loves were his beautiful wife, Jeanette, and their family, traveling to visit grandchildren for any event, big or small, and going on excursions with their military friends from their first assignment at Dolan Barracks, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. Ervan greatly impacted the world he lived in, from Europe to Asia to his small Texas town, and always did what he could to make his community a better place. While he will be missed dearly, his friends and family know Ervan lived a full life and is with God in heaven.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Jeanette, and their children and spouses: Michael (Kingsland), John and spouse Laura (Flatonia), Greg and spouse Russell Wright (San Antonio), Brenda Novinski and spouse Greg Novinski (Irving), and Elizabeth Smith and spouse Patrick Smith (College Park, Maryland). He is also survived by his sister-in-law Gretchen Zapalac (Flatonia) and sister and brother-in-law Mary Ann and Victor Tichacek (East Bernard). Ervan has been blessed with 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren who made frequent visits from near and far to see their beloved Grandpa.

Ervan is preceded in death by his parents Edward (Eddie) and Julia Zurovec Zouzalik (Flatonia), stepmother Laura Homuth Zouzalik (Flatonia/Smithville), brother and sister-in-law Vic and Dorothy Zouzalik (Lubbock), in-laws R. D. and Ann Zapalac (Flatonia), and brother-in-law Edwin Zapalac (Flatonia).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the E. A. Arnim Archives and Museum, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, or The American Legion Post 94 of Flatonia, Texas.

Visitation will be at Smith Funeral Home in Flatonia, Texas, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 4:00 PM, followed by a prayer service and rosary at 7:00 PM.

The Funeral Mass, Celebrating the Life of Ervan Zouzalik, will be Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 11:00 AM, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flatonia, Texas, followed by a graveside service at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

An online memorial is located at www.smithfuneraltx.com. Share your thoughts and fond memories with Ervan’s family.

Smith Funeral Home – 128 East 5th Street, Flatonia, TX  78941

Phone #361-865-3311