Odon (Paul) Takacs

Odon (Paul) Takacs, 85 of New Haven, MO passed away on Monday, May 7, 2019 at his home. Paul was born in Boldogkoujfalu, Hungary on June 2, 1933, son of Istvan and Ida (Muha) Takacs.

He is survived by his sister, Terez (Takacs) Csuka, of Hungary, son Paul Takacs and wife Cathy Takacs, of Trenton, IL, daughter Elaine Takacs and husband Richard Ratliff, of Flower Mound, TX, and son Louis Takacs and wife Katelijne Schrama, of Amsterdam, Netherlands; by his grandchildren, Nicholas Takacs and wife Jenna Takacs, of Idaho Falls, ID; Daniel, Gregory, Emily, and Jillian Takacs, all of Trenton, IL; John Ratliff, of Flower Mound, TX and Maia Takacs, of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Paul was also blessed with a great granddaughter, Lucille of Idaho Falls, ID.

Odon Paul Takacs was born in a small village in northeastern Hungary and was raised on his family farm. He fought the Soviets in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and fled to Austria as a refugee. Paul immigrated to the United States in 1957 where he was granted political asylum. He initially lived in East St. Louis, IL with his great aunt Helen (Muha) Kralina who sponsored him through Catholic Charities. He married the former Janet Keroly at St. Mary of Victories Church in St. Louis in 1963 and became a U.S. citizen shortly thereafter. For many years, he and his family lived in the St. Louis area. He moved to New Haven, MO and resided there for the last 40 years of his life.

Paul was a retired welder and electrician, but his real passion was winemaking, music and soccer. Most of all, he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren and sharing his happiness with everyone he met.

Visitation was held Sunday, May 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home, of New Haven.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church in New Haven, with Fr. John Deken officiating.

Burial was at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Belleville, IL Monday at 2 p.m. Memorials may be given to Assumption Church or to a charity of one’s choice. C/O Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home.