Vivian June (Zahradka) Thomas, 97, passed away Sunday, February 14, 2021, in the Moweaqua Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 19, 2021 in Seitz Funeral Home, Moweaqua. Burial will be in the Woodlawn (Oddfellows) Cemetery, Moweaqua. Please wear masks and practice social distancing.  Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, Moweaqua.

Vivian was born to Victoria (Duez) and Louis Zahradka on July 1, 1923.  Her childhood years were spent in Pana where she then  graduated from Pana High School.  After graduation she pursued a nursing career, as did her younger sister.  She trained at Moweaqua Hospital where under Mrs. Sparling's supervision she and her sister helped to deliver many Moweaqua babies.

During the time she was in Moweaqua, Vivian met Joe Thomas.  Though clearly opposites in personalities, they made a good match.  They married in St. Louis on November 14, 1942.  From then on where you saw Joe, you generally saw Vivian.  When they were not going to ballgames, Vivian ran a tight ship at home.  She loved to cook, play piano, sing, sew, and organize the family.  She was an excellent housekeeper.  Dirt and dirty kids did not stand a chance. Later Vivian worked outside the home for the State of Illinois.

Vivian's short nursing career turned out to be fortuitus.  Over the years, she cared for her aging mother-in-law when she declined in health, her sister-in-law, and her own sister.  When Joe went to the nursing home, Vivian moved to the retirement side so she could be with him every day, all day.  Joe died on July 1, 2011, Vivian's birthday.  They had been married 69 years.

Aside from routine household tasks, Vivian made time for friends and for her faith.  She was a member of Grace Baptist Church, Moweaqua.  Both Vivian and Joe exhibited their faith as parents and as husband and wife.  Vivian left her daughters a legacy of sweet memories and lasting life lessons, bolstered by her example.

Vivian is survived by her daughters, Carol Ann Smull and husband, Ron, of Moweaqua; Sandra Jo Bohlen and husband, Ken, of Springfield; grandchildren, Eric Smull of Hanna City; Rebecca O'Connell of Athens; Seth Bohlen of Springfield; great-grandchildren, Brady, Caleb, and Ruby; several nieces and nephews.  Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Rose Eck, Norma McDaniel, Vicki Fringer and brothers, Gene Zahradka, Richard Zahradka, Louis Zahradka; and grandson, Rodney Smull.