Praesel

Arthur “Gus” “Sonny” A.G. Praesel Sr., 83, of Rockdale died Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, at his home.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, at Forest Grove Christian Church with Don Roe officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Grove Cemetery in the Forest Grove community.

Mr. Praesel was born Oct. 31, 1935, to Ida (Schramm) and Arthur Praesel in the Nile community, east of Thorndale. Two years later his family moved eight miles south of Rockdale to the Black Jack community.

He attended the first six years of school at Black Jack School, then transferred to the Rockdale School District for four years. He finished high school with a G.E.D. in 1970.

He married Virginia M. Mc Kinney on June 28, 1957, in Cuero.

In February 1955, Mr. Praesel went to work in lignite mines for Industrial Generating Co. of Rockdale. He started as a laborer and worked up to management the last nine years, before retiring in 1985.

During his career, he attended numerous management and safety schools through I.C.S., S.M.U. and U.T. He also attended real estate school in Austin in 1988.

Mr. Praesel helped build several softball fields in the Rock-dale area.

Upon retirement, he went back to ranching, attending several cow and calf clinics, land management and the preservation of wildlife courses.

In 1987, he built Deli Subs & Salads in Rockdale and they were in operation for 15 years.

Mr. Praesel was a member of Forest Grove Christian Church and did volunteer work with the Rockdale Fair. He was a member of the IBEW for 22 years and held several positions in the union.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Charles Ernest Praesel and John Ralph Praesel; a sister, Mary Wanda Flemming; and a grandson, Arthur Scott Praesel.

Survivors are his wife, Virginia Praesel of Rockdale; two sons, Roger Praesel and wife Pam of Caldwell, Arthur Gus Praesel Jr. and wife Tina of Buna; two daughters, Yvonne Baker of Bryan, Evada Cooper and husband Terry of Athens; and eight grandchildren, Justin Praesel, Clay Praesel, Stephanie Henson, Gina Minter, Adam Rocha, Brandi Verrett, Audria Tramel and Sara Fuller; also, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Justin Praesel, Clay Praesel, Arlon Hester, Adam Rocha, Elias Greene and Ronnie Verrett.

Memorials may be made to Parkinson Foundation or to Texas A&M Scholarship Foundation (Former Student Association).