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Grawunder, SP3 James Edward (1930-2021)
Grawunder, James Edward
Obituary
2021
James Edward Grawunder of Bellville, Texas passed away December 2, 2021 with his loving wife of 66 years by his side. On June 22, 1930, he was born to Edward and Minnie Grawunder in Bellville. He graduated from Bellville High School in 1947, being the first graduate to receive the American Farmer Degree.
In 1954 he joined the US Army, 1955 married Neely Fay Kinkler and raised four children together. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church, Bellville, where he was an active member of the church council, men's choir, Sunday school teacher, and Superintendent. James started his farming career with his dad and a team of mules that worked the fields growing corn, cotton, and hay. Eventually, they upgraded to a jeep to assist with the farming and giving rides to school kids at the river bottom during the rainy season. He would pick them up and bring them to higher ground to catch the school bus. Farming with mules evolved to his current diesel-powered, air-conditioned tractors during his lifetime. Although he enjoyed agricultural production with his lifelong working companions, "The Starks" family, his greatest love was raising cattle, especially Brahma Cattle. At a young age, he trained his Brahma bull to be the mascot for the football team where the bull would be led onto the field and kneel for the crowd. He enjoyed playing horseshoes and dominoes competitively in his free time and hunting trips that consisted of wood burning stoves, tents, lanterns, and a straw bed. He joined the local BBQ "Gravy" cooking team and remained on the team for 50 years, heading up the group for 40 of those years. Just remember it is "Gravy," not BBQ "Sauce." He participated in various organizations, Austin County Fair Board, Austin County Livestock Association, National Farmer Association, Millhein Harmony Hall, and many more. He served as County Commissioner and BISD School Board Member for many years. He enjoyed gatherings with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, most of all. James was preceded in death by his parents, Minnie Langberg Grawunder, Edward Grawunder; sisters, Gladys Fischer and husband, Lorenz, Dorothy Schiller and husband, Wilber; son-in-law, Robert Calzada. He is survived by his wife, Neely; and children, James "Jimmy" Grawunder, Jr. (Darly), Martha Neva (Doug), Ray Grawunder (Alida Thompson), and Laura Calzada; grandchildren, Neely Graham (Ben), Lauren Webb (Griffin), Rachel Wolf (Travis), Nicole Grawunder, Kala Calzada, RJ Calzada (Maddy), Christopher Calzada; great-grandchildren, Lyla, Bailey, and Elise Graham, Nora and Brooks Webb, Scarlett, Collins, and Sloane Wolf. Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM at Knesek Family Funeral Chapel, 842 E. Main Street, Bellville, Texas, followed by a funeral service at 3:00 PM. Burial will be in Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery in Bellville. Pallbearers will be Gary Grawunder, Tom Grawunder, Kirk Hoppe, Glenn Schiller, Boyd Schiller, Matt Waak The family would like to thank Sharon Graham, Wendy Frank, Elaine Washington of Allumine Home Heath, and Kenneth Theusen and employees of Rosehill Assisted Living. Memorial donations may be given to Allumine Home Health, 430 TX 6 Frontage Rd. Suite 350, College Station, TX 77845; St John Lutheran Church Bellville, 520 N. Holland, Bellville, TX 77418; 1891 Pilgrims Rest Cemetery; or a charity of your choice. |
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Grawunder
James Edward
16028
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