Charles Joseph Hajovsky

Charles Joseph Hajovsky, 77, of Holman, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, March 31, 2024 at Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, Texas.

Charles was born on March 25, 1947, the first of eight children (four boys and four girls) to Charlie C. and Marie (Wick) Hajovsky in Schulenburg, Texas.  Charles would be followed by Marie Helen, Bernadette, James, Paul, Catherine, Annette, and Gerard. 

In his early years, Charles attended school in Holman, followed by St. Michael’s Catholic School in Weimar, and Bishop Forest High School in Schulenburg, graduating in 1965. 

But during all of his school years, Charles would remain active on the family farm.  He attended Wharton County Junior College (often acting as a bus driver for area locals commuting with him on the Weimar-to-Wharton round-trip).  And he attended Texas A&I in Kingsville, as well, where his first love was always agronomy. 

Charles was also known for his photographic memory.  And, when attending Wharton and, later, Texas A&I, that memory came in quite handy…  He had the uncanny ability to read his schoolwork once, spend much time working on the family farm, and still sail through his tests.  Along with agronomy, he was always fascinated by histories of all kinds…but especially ones of Texas. 

Charles left A&I at the end of his junior year in order to help at home and to begin developing his own farming operation.  His areas of greatest agricultural expertise were in his family’s specialties:  corn and grain sorghum crops, cattle, and pecans.  

In the summer of 1972, he met Kathryn (Kitty) Klauber, a Californian whose family owned a small farm in Dubina.  Kitty’s mother had been raised in Borden and her family often visited from the west coast.  Charles and Kitty wed on December 29, 1972 in Los Angeles, and drove back down to Holman to begin their life together. 

Charles was well known for his farming expertise.  And over time he built a thriving business in both farming and ranching across acres, miles, and even counties.

Their first child, a daughter, Leigh, was born in 1979.  And their second child, a son, Clay, was born in 1983.  They built a home in the Holman hills in 1986 on land gifted to them from Charles’ parents—land with a view of the Colorado River bottom Charles loved so much.

The children, Leigh and Clay, with their own independent personalities, were nevertheless the best of pals when discovering new hiking trails, unused barns, and creek beds…   And accompanied by their shy and loving Border Collie mix, Brownie, the children made discoveries that have lasted in memory for all these years.

Although Charles and Kitty would divorce in 1999, Charles continued his farming and ranching operation along with his brothers Paul and Gerard. 

On Valentine’s Day, 2006, Charles married Elizabeth Janda at the Piano Bridge in Dubina, Texas.  Charles and Liz would enjoy hosting family gatherings and taking many road trips together, especially to the Midwest and the coast.

Even into his seventies, Charles still loved to drive (and ultimately be driven) across many miles of farmland and orchards--some leased, some family-owned.  Even when his health declined, he would cajole Leigh, especially, to pick up some lunch or, better still, an ice cream cone or blizzard for her dad, and drive to his brothers’ and/or son Clay’s fields in Holman, Mullins Prairie, Plum, Rabbs Prairie, or Kirtley.  And there were many trips that included all of the above communities, just ask any family member who drove on those trips!  (And Charles was usually only satisfied when he’d seen them all!)

Also, in his seventies, Charles contracted Parkinson’s disease, which he battled for several years.  Parkinson’s ultimately would take his speech and his vibrant health…but it did not take his spirit… 

That same spirit lives on—in four of his favorite people on earth:  Leigh, Clay, and Clay’s own two spirited and loving children, Lillie and Frank, who have always had the ability to make Charles’ eyes sparkle with love and pleasure—and who live with their parents, Clay and Kassie, on the very same hill Leigh and Clay were raised on. 

Charles, who lived six days past his 77th birthday, will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.  But his life, and his incredible spirit, will also live on in his children, his grandchildren, his community, …and the land that he loved so much.

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