George Frank Chaloupka

George Frank Chaloupka, 83, of Greers Ferry, Arkansas, passed away November 3, 2018. Born in Prague Czechoslovakia to Frantisek and Marie Chaloupka (Schloger). He became a Naturalized US Citizen in 1963 and served in the US Army from 1958 until his honorable discharge in 1965. At 13 he and his Dad fled Communist ruled Czechoslovakia. During his 3 years in a German refugee camp he worked as an auto mechanic. They immigrated to Sao Paulo, Brazil with the hope of later coming to the US. George found work in a tool and die shop. He soon was offered a job as a machinery salesman. He spoke his native Czech, German, Russian, and in Brazil he learned Portuguese. After seven years he and his father were allowed to immigrate to the US. His father traveled to New York City while George stayed in Brazil. His father told George that the transition was difficult. George decided that coming to the US was worth the risk so he spent his savings to make the trip. In NYC he took a job where everyone spoke Czechoslovakian and he lived with Czechs. He changed jobs and moved so he could learn English. He enlisted in the Army for two years in 1958. Speaking five languages allowed him to help European and Hispanic soldiers communicate and understand their commands. His language skills were valuable to US intelligence so his Honorable Discharge was not issued until 1965. He eventually moved to Chicago where he became reacquainted with the Vozenilek family and Mary Vozenilek whom he knew from the German refugee camps. They were married while serving at Fort Hood where their son Peter was born in 1960. Later they returned to Cicero, Illinois where he worked as a tool and die maker. George and Mary divorced and George came through Arkansas on a 70-degree day in February. He found employment at Timex and met Victoria Ann Morris. They married and George adopted her son, Jimmy Van. George and Vickie bought a small farm in Lonoke County and later bought a larger farm in Beebe. Their son Terry was born as they worked towards improving the farm that would support their children's education and support their retirement. George was able to retire early after selling the farm. He and Vickie purchased a home near Velvet Ridge and they split their time between there and Greers Ferry Lake. After Vickie's death from cancer George became closer to a family friend, Wanda Wallis-Olson. George and Wanda became close friends, business associates, advisers and dearly close companions. She helped him to live as full and normal a life as possible until a lung condition took his life. His life will be forever cherished by his surviving family; sons, Pete Chaloupka (Sharon), Jimmy Chaloupka (Elaine), Terry Chaloupka (Kelly) and his grandchildren, Blake and Abbie. Mary Chaloupka and Wanda Wallis-Olson. Family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday with Rosary at 7 p.m., at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at St. James Catholic Church in Searcy, with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home. www.smithfamilycares.com.