Mildred Ella Gold Piwonka Beran died on Wednesday December 20, 2023, at the age of 95. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and friend known for her strength of character, generosity, and forgiving nature. She was optimistic, good natured, andgracious.Havinggrown up during the Great Depression and following the example set by her parents, she was also hardworking and resourceful. Hers was a long and prosperous life well lived.
Mildred was born shortly after midnight on Monday October 15, 1928, on the family farm in Burleson County, Texas. She was the youngest child of Adolph andMaryHoyackGoldwho were both descendants of Czech immigrants. Mildred grew up speaking Czech until she attended Providence Elementary School. In 1946, she graduated from Caldwell High School. She attended Sam Houston State Teachers College and taught school at Frenstat before moving to Houston in 1948 where she worked at the Rice Hotel and Earl McMillian Ford. In 1950, she moved to Austin and worked at Capitol Chevrolet.
On September 27, 1950, Mildred married Benjamin Willie (Bill) Piwonka, also from Caldwell, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Austin. The wedding reception was held back home at the Gold family farm.
Mildred worked at Austin Armature Works until their first child was born in 1952. Then she worked at Texas Municipal Retirement System until their second child was born. Bill and Mildred had four more children while living inAustin, including a set of identical twin boys. The family moved to Jackson, MS, in 1961, where their seventh child was born. They relocated to Houston in 1967, before moving to Memphis, TN, in 1968, where they
were part-owners of A&I Warehouse. Bill was the warehouse manager and president, and Mildred was the office manager.
After twelve years of running the warehouse in Memphis, and all the children either had jobs, were married, or were in college, they retired early and moved back to Caldwell to start a ranching operationonthePiwonka family farm (later known as the “Piwonka Place”) where Bill and his siblings were born and raised. Sadly, Bill died suddenly on July 8, 1982, at the age of 59. They had been married for almost 32 years. Mildred remained active in ranching as well as the warehouse business in Memphis, where she served on the board of directors, while living in the house she and Bill had built in Caldwell.
In 1985, she started dating Barney Benjamin Beran and they were married on April 19, 1986. They enjoyed socializing at VFW dances, traveling, going on cruises, gambling at casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi as well as Las Vegas. They made numerous trips to Memphis over the years either for business meetings or to visit Mildred’s children and grandchildren that lived there. Mildred and Barney were married for 34 years until Barney passed away at the age of 97.
In 1987, Mildred hosted the first Memorial Day BBQ and family reunion at the Piwonka Place. This became a legendary event attended by scores of family members and friends each year up until 2019.
Mildred was a member of St. Mary Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church ever since moving back to Caldwell in 1981. She also became a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars after shemarriedBarneywhohad been a WWll army pilot.
Mildred is preceded in death by her parentsAdolph and Mary Gold, half-brother Henry Gold, Sr., first husband Bill Piwonka, second husband Barney Beran, stepson Barney Vince (Scooter) Beran, and sister Lillian Piwonka.
She is survived by her seven children and one stepson: Victoria Renee Piwonka (Barry Sturrock) of San Antonio, Texas; Timothy William Piwonka (Millie) of Tyler, Texas; Max Anthony Piwonka (Sarah) of Memphis, Tennessee; Bruce Edward Piwonka (Laura) of Germantown, Tennessee; Brian Joseph Piwonka of Germantown, Tennessee; Nancy Marie Piwonka of Houston, Texas; Janis LynnePiwonka(AronRamage) of Memphis, Tennessee; and Billy Jack Beran of Caldwell, Texas.
Numerous grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Greg Piwonka (Kelley); Ken Piwonka (Emily Besser); Jeff Piwonka (Darlene); Robert Piwonka (Laura); Lauren Wechter (Ben); Emily Francis (James); Colin Sturrock; Megan Harper (Tim); Savanna Peirce; Sidonie Sturrock; William Piwonka; Will Sturrock; Mallory Piwonka; Cooper Barner (Jane); and Currie Peterson (Nick); As well as several great-grandchildren and step-great- grandchildren: River Piwonka; Lucy Piwonka; Benji Piwonka; Iggy Piwonka; Jonah Harper; Autumn Piwonka; Scarlett Piwonka; Victoria Stockman; Rowan Barner; Adalynn Barner; Noelle Peterson; and Charlotte Peterson.
A public visitation will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Friday, December 29, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery in Caldwell.
In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Mary Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, or trees can be planted in her memory.
Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.