Anastasia "Stella" M. Protteau

ANASTASIA (Zemanek) “Stella” PROTTEAU, 98, of Bellville, Texas, passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Sealy, Texas.

Stella was born December 1922, in Hallettsville, Texas, the daughter of Jan and Anastasia (Vlasak) Zemanek.  Her father died while she was an infant.  When she was two, her mother moved to Wisconsin and remarried.  After Catholic grade school, Stella graduated from Janesville High School.

Stella married Robert “Bob” Protteau in McAllen, Texas while he was in the Army Air Corp in 1944.  They returned to Wisconsin following the war.  A loving mother, she raised five children with Bob.  In 1969, Stella began work as a clerk and seamstress at Plahn’s Army Navy Store.  Stella was gifted with a beautiful voice and the ability to harmonize by ear, singing in church choirs, including Sts. Peter and Paul in Bellville and in other groups.

She is survived by her daughters:  Mary Rye of Morgantown, West Virginia, Therese Gardner of Sorrento, Florida, and Beth Werry and her husband Stephen Werry of Bellville, Texas; son, Jan (John) Protteau and his wife, Betty, of Montgomery, Texas; grandchildren:  Stacy Rye, Laura Rye, JoEllen Ruckman, Annie Peace, Marie Gardner, Devin Gardner, Ben Werry, Tony Protteau, and Suzy Wilkerson; great-grandchildren:  Michael, Elizabeth, Adrienne, Max, Josie, Caroline, Harrison, Jacob, Hannah, Brantley, Brinley, Cody, Wyatt, Isabella, Beau, Hayden, and Hayley; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Sigmund Dusik; husband, Robert Protteau; son, Gerard Protteau; sisters, Josephine Hedden and Bernadine Bowar; brother, Al Dusik; two stepsisters and two stepbrothers.

Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to either:

Catholic Relief Services
PO Box 17090
Baltimore, Maryland 21297

or to the charity of one's choice