Pesl

Services for Alois James Pesl, age 81 of Rockdale, were at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rockdale with Rev. Pedro Castillo, Deacon Don Sims and Deacon Gus Coelho officiating. Burial will be at Salty Cemetery, Thorndale.

Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.

AI was born May 7, 1940, in Cistern to Cyril Methodius Pesl and Kathryn Theresa (Svoboda) Pesl.

He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years as an aircraft mechanic. While there he also attended Florida State University.

On April 11, 1964, he and Minnie Giere were married in Smithville and moved to Houston and lived there three months. They quickly decided that city life was not for them. They saw a two-page ad for Alcoa in the newspaper. AI applied and was hired. They moved to Rockdale, where he worked as a millwright with Alcoa’s Rockdale Works for 39 years. He was a member of St.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a member of Knights of Columbus.

During his years of employment, he enjoyed his family of four daughters and two sons. They were all involved in 4-H, FFA and many other school and community activities.

As his family grew, he took his kids to stock shows, taught them to drive tractors and back trailers. They hauled hay, slamming into round bales with the bale buggy, and learned the responsibility of caring for animals of all kinds.

Although he worked long hours, he never missed an event his children were involved in.

Time passed and his kids grew up and left for college one at a time. He was extremely proud that all six kids attended and graduated from Texas A&M University.

He was also proud that now he has grandchildren attending Texas A&M.

He wore his A&M cap everywhere and told everyone about his six kids and 23 grands.

At 62 years, he decided to retire. He filled his days tending his cows, chickens, goats and ducks. He and Minnie also visited and cared for his children and grandchildren. He shelled 100-200 pounds of pecans each fall that he shared with family and friends.

He was always ready and willing to help whenever and wherever he was needed. He was a devoted husband, loving Daddy and beloved Grandpa. He will be missed immensely by his family and friends. He leaves a void that cannot be filled, but the impact he had on each of us will remain.

AI passed away Wednesday morning, Oct. 27, at the V.A. Hospital in Temple.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cyril and Kathryn Pesl, and two brothers, William Joseph Pesl and Benjamin Joseph Pesl.

Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Minnie Pesl of Rockdale; his children and spouses: Suzanne Ritchie and husband Eric of Johnston, Iowa, Margaret Ann Delise and husband Edward of Cumming, Georgia, Theresa Murphrey and husband Kelly of College Station, Richard Pesl and wife Traci of Rockdale, Jennifer Gee and husband Kevin of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, James Pesl and wife Dusti of Rockdale; 23 grandchildren: Alexander, Alan and Andrew Ritchie, Michael, Matthew, David, Sophia, Katie, Nicholas, Joseph, Emily and Colette Delise, Kellijett and Langston Murphrey, Ashley, Ty and Lance Pesl, Hayden, Connor and Dylan Gee, Kathryn, Carli, and Caitlin Pesl; and his siblings and spouses: Mary Ann Srubar of West Point, Cyril Pesl Jr. and wife Shirley of String Prairie, Katherine Karisch of Smithville, Lillian Spurgeon and husband Carl of Taylor and Daniel Pesl and wife Kathy of Smithville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to National Right to Life or nrlc.org.

Arrangements by Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home, P.O. Drawer 1417, Rockdale, TX 76567, 512-446-5454.