Eugene P. Chmelar died on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at his residence in Caldwell.
Eugene was born on Jan. 8, 1930, to Frank and Cecilie (Knesek) Chmelar in the Harmony community.
Throughout his life, he loved playing dominoes, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
During World War II, his dad and sister left to work in the Houston shipyard, and his brothers were called to serve in the war. So at 12 years of age, Eugene ran the family farm of 500 acres. He quit school for several years to help his family and worked at A&M as a cook. He later went back to school, taking double credit courses, and graduated with his class.
He married Gertrude (Peters) Chmelar on Oct. 18, 1950. To this union, five children were born.
After marriage, he worked at the Continental Can Company, and in the 1960s, he and Gertrude managed the Birch Store. He worked at the Somerville Tie Plant and retired from Alcoa in the early 1980’s.
After retiring, he started his own oil business, Eugene Chmelar Oil & Gas. He worked in the oil business until he was 88 years old, often pumping, operating and repairing his own wells.
On May 20, 2005, he married Sharon (Marek) Hovorak. They enjoyed traveling and spending time in Matagorda at their house on the Colorado River.
Eugene’s greatest pastime was playing dominoes, especially 42. When he would go on trips with his family, he made sure the dominoes were packed. He passed on to several of his grandchildren and even great-grandchildren his love for the game of 42.
He taught his children to believe in God, to work hard and to make time for each other.
He was a kindhearted, generous man who encouraged his children to live in harmony and to be peacemakers. He was a good listener and was always available to care for, love and support his family. He instilled in them a great work ethic which will live on for generations.His family will treasure forever the fond memories they have with their Dad and Pawpaw--fishing at Big Creek, hunting at Del Rio, celebrating special occasions and praying always.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gertrude; brothers, George Chmelar, Manuel Chmelar, and Frank Chmelar; sister, Alice Calvin; sisters-in-law, Lenora Chmelar and Agnes Chmelar; and brother-in-law, Leroy Calvin.
He is survived by his second wife, Sharon; children, Dorothy Zavodny and husband, George (Butch), Selina Arledge and husband, Terry, Gene Chmelar and wife, Susie, Darrell Chmelar and wife, Lori, and Leda Williams and husband, Kevin; stepchildren, Crystal Matulich and husband, Marc, Andy Hovorak, Matt Hovorak and Chris Saenz; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren.
Arrangements by Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell.