Bennie Macik, 86, of Caldwell, was called home, Friday, August 11, 2023, in College Station, Texas. A Celebration of Bennie’s Life was held on Monday, August 14, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Strickland Funeral Home Chapel in Caldwell, with Pastor Michael Zwernemann officiating.
Interment followed at the Caldwell Masonic Cemetery, with Military Honors provided by VFW Post No. 4458. The Family received guests from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at the funeral home.
Bennie was born June 19, 1937, in the Tunis community of Burleson County to parents, Joe and Lydia (Baletka) Macik.
Bennie married the love of his life, Leatrice Schultz, on June 3, 1956, at the Caldwell Brethren Church. To this union were born A.J., Brenda, and Bradley.
Bennie loved his family. He enjoyed doing things with children and later with his grandchildren.
He had many hobbies, hunting, fishing, gardening and mechanic work. He could work on just about any tractor there was.
He also enjoyed making sausage and homemade wine and barbecuing for his family.
He was very good at fixing things. He was a hard worker, and always did his best and shared that quality with children and grandchildren.
In his later years, he loved riding around looking at different things with his sweetie, just to get out the house. Some of his other interests were traveling, playing slots, the lotto, and dominoes.
His career began at an early age helping his parents with family farming, which is where he got his work ethic from. Then, he worked for Boswell Porter in the Brazos Bottom picking cotton. He worked for the Nagel Coat Hanger Factory. Then the shoe factory. He went on to work for the Santa Fe Railroad Company where he retired after 29 years.
He was a member of the Lyons Evangelical Church, the Birch Gun Club, the TCU Union for 31 years, and served his country in the National Guard and Ready Reserve.
Mr. Macik was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters and brothersin- law, Francis Whitmore and husband, Jack, Ella King and husband, John, Annie Carter and husband, Cecil, and Janie Schoeneman and husband, Walter; five brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe Lee Macik and wife, Velma, Robert Macik and wife, Lorene, Raymond Macik and wife, Frenchie, Frankie Macik, and an infant brother; also by his mother and father- inlaw, Hermina and Albert W. Schultz.
Bennie is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Leatrice Macik, of Caldwell, Texas; two sons, A.J. Macik of Caldwell, Texas, and Bradley Macik and wife, Natashia of Copperas Cove, Texas; one daughter, Brenda Barton and husband, Keith; brother-in-law, Albert Schultz; brother-in-law, Ernest Schultz and wife, Judy; sisters-in-law, Mary Macik, Shirley Vykukal, and Janice Canatella and husband, Kenneth, all of Caldwell, Texas; six grandchildren, Julie Macik and husband, Casey Lourcey, Jenna Macik, Noah Macik and wife, Storm, Nick Macik, Taylor Macik, and Corbin Macik; five great-grandchildren, Teagan Drewry, Liam Davis, Adelynne Davis, Amerie Stringfellow, and Sage Stringfellow; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, church family and many friends.
Serving as pallbearers were, Casey Lourcey, Noah Macik, Nick Macik, Corbin Macik, Matthew Canatella, Jason Vykukal, Justin Vykukal, and Allen Schultz.
Honorary pallbearers were, Harry Humphfres, Johnny Tucker, and Kenneth Canatella In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Lyons Evangelical Church or charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home. They invite you to visit their website at www. stricklandfuneralhomes. com and sign the online register book.