Visitation for Joe James Marek, 85, of Lyons, was held Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home.
Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, at 10 a.m. in the Phillips & Luckey Chapel.
Burial followed at the Schoppe Cemetery in Lyons, Texas.
Mr. Marek died on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.
Joe was born on Nov. 8, 1935, in Brazos County, to Lydia Marek.
He was an avid cattle rancher and army veteran who enjoyed playing dominoes with his friends as well as spending time with his special friend Bonnie Matejka.
Joe joined the United States Army as an Armorer in 1958 and was Honorably Discharged in 1964.
After returning from the military, he moved to the Burleson County area and settled in Deanville.
He was married to Kay Luedke in 1958 and had two children, Arleen Coker and Kay Red.
In 1980, he married Evelyn Rathjen.
Despite his limited education, Joe was a successful independent businessman.
During his career, he owned a tavern/grocery store and multiple rental properties; he worked at International Furniture prior to being drafted into the army, and later served as a carpenter and mechanic.
Joe enjoyed buying and selling cattle in his later years, which he did until retirement (around the age of 80).
Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Lydia Marek Hale and stepfather, Emil Hale; his wife, Evelyn Marek; stepsisters, Lydia Thomas and Barbara Treybig; and step brother, Ronnie Hale, Jr.
Joe is survived by his daughters, Kay Red and husband, Danny, Arleen Coker and husband, Leonard; special friend, Bonnie Matejka; grandchildren, Forest Red, Casey Red, Ashley Easterwood and husband Jeff, and Dustin Coker and wife, Audra; great grandchildren, Cera, Lily, Colton and Kayla; stepsister, Doris Jamelka; stepbrother, Emil Hale, Jr.; stepchildren, Darlene Schill and husband, Robert, Darla Garcia, Rodney Schulz and wife, Judy, and Wilburn Schulz Jr. and wife, Tammy; stepgrandchildren, Jimmy Schulz, Sheila Schill, Robert Patterson, Jennie Medley, Susan Einkauf, Johnny Jones, Sonya Martinez, Ragina Schulz, Ronda Schulz, Rana Schulz, Lonnie Crenshaw, Katie Crenshaw, Angie Horsley, Amy Knesek and Raymond Schulz; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Services are in care of Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home Caldwell.Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.