Address: 1935 Dogwood Drive, Billings, Montana 59105.
Marla had a cerebral hemmorage in 1979 and suffered brain damage...nursing home until she died in 2000.
Obituary:
https://www.hennekefuneralhome.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=1420&locid=0
Harold Gene Marek, Sr.
July 3, 1932 - October 14, 2020
Harold Gene Marek, Sr., 88, passed away peacefully in his home in New Ulm, Texas on October 14, 2020.Gene was born on July 3, 1932 in New Ulm, Texas to Bennie John Marek and Mary Ann (Dungen) Marek on the family farm. He spent his childhood doing chores on the farm, playing with his older brother, walking across the pasture to Henkhaus School, and eating his mom's good cooking. As he got older he enjoyed playing baseball and croquet, hunting, driving tractors, and going to the movies and to dancehalls.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in New Ulm. He graduated from Bellville High School in 1949.
He met the love of his life, Carmon Geroldine Walley, at the skating rink in Columbus in 1952, and they were married at St. John Lutheran Church on December 27, 1953.
He took his bride to her home state of Mississippi for their honeymoon, and when they returned to Texas, they moved in with his parents while he built her a house on the family land.
Gene started working for the Texas Department of Highways in Columbus, Texas in 1953. His firstborn and namesake was born in 1957, and his second son was born in 1962. He retired from the Highway Department in 1976. After that, he worked helping his father-in-law in the oil field and for his two sons at Marek's Services. He was the best maintainer operator they ever had. He also kept the books for Marek's Services, and he kept his two boys and their employees on their toes. Because of him, the office ran like a well-oiled machine. Growing up, his favorite subject was math, and he put that talent to good use to help his sons. He was obsessed with the tires, vehicles, and equipment of Marek's Services and their upkeep, and he knew and remembered everything about the company. If his boys purchased a trailer, he could tell you who they bought it from, how much they paid for it, who they sold it to, and how much they sold it for even twenty years after it happened.
In 1986, he became Pops when his first grandchild was born, and from then on, he was known as Pops to all who loved him. He was the perfect grandfather and his grandchildren loved to ride around in his truck with him, listening to his favorite polka music, and checking the land and the cattle.
Gene loved to stay on top of current events and he poured through magazines and newspapers daily. A brilliant man, his mind was as sharp as a tack, even on the day that he died. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, he was wise, and he was witty.
He remained the office manager, bookkeeper, and secretary for Marek's Services for as long as he could, finally retiring in 2013 when he was 81. He spent his remaining years alongside his beloved wife, reading his newspapers, watching his favorite shows, and being spoiled by his great-grandchildren. They adored him, and he them, and there were not very many days that he didn't have the company of at least one of them. His son constructed a swing set in the front yard so that Pops could sit in his chair and watch them play.
After losing his wife in September, Pops was simply ready to go join her. With a house full of loved ones, Pops left this world in the same house he had built for his wife all those years ago.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers-in-law, Gary (Sonny) Walley, and Donnie Walley, father-in-law and mother-in-law, James Willis and Carmen Walley, and sisters-in-law, Joyce (Suchadoll) Marek and Ora Nell Gross Marek. He leaves behind to cherish his memories: his sons and daughters-in-law, Harold, Jr. and Robin Marek, James and Susie Marek, all of New Ulm. Grandchildren, Jenni Hargrave and husband Dustin of New Ulm, Marshall Marek and wife Audrey of Cat Spring, Mason Marek and wife Taylar of New Ulm, Cameron Marek and girlfriend Lindsey of New Ulm, Allison Drobniak and husband David of Houston, Steven Miller and wife Tammy of Crowley, Texas. Great-grandchildren, Eden, Ila and James Hargrave, Harrison and Rosey Marek, Rylen, Willow and Hallie Marek, Blake Drobniak, Christopher and Timothy Miller, his beloved brother, Ben Marek of New Ulm, his sister-in-law, Jeronee Dibbens and husband Eddie of The Woodlands, brothers-in-law, Larry Walley and wife Susie of Mexia, Texas and Ronnie Walley and wife Eileen of Salem, Oregon, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his caretakers Carmen, Blanca, Karina, and Mariana.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at St. John Lutheran Church in New Ulm with Pastor Glenn E. Hohlt officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm. The service will begin at 2:00 pm. Pallbearers will be Dustin Hargrave, Marshall Marek, Mason Marek, Cameron Marek, Randy Haverlah and Charlie Krueger. Honorary pallbearers will be all past and present employees of Marek's Services. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, Texas.
Memorials may be sent to St. John Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 1270, New Ulm, TX 78950.
Obituary (from https://www.hennekefuneralhome.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=1412&locid=0 ):
Written by Jennifer Hargrave, granddaughter:
Carmon Geroldine (Walley) Marek, 83, passed away peacefully in her home in New Ulm, Texas on September 16, 2020.
She was born on April 27, 1937 in Vicksburg, Mississippi to James Willis Walley and Carmen Alene (Busby) Walley. Though she moved with her family to New Ulm, Texas in 1950 when she was thirteen years old, she was always very proud of her childhood spent in Mississippi and loved to share stories from her life there. She met the love of her life, Harold Gene Marek, Sr., at the skating rink in Columbus when she was fifteen, and they were married at St. John Lutheran Church on December 27, 1953.
She worked at the New Ulm Enterprise in New Ulm and for her brother-in-law, Ben Marek, at Marek's Grocery in New Ulm when her two boys were small. Once her boys were grown, she worked for them at Marek's Services. Everything she did was in service to her husband and boys, and she was happiest when taking care of the three of them. Her favorite job in the world though came in 1986 when her first grandchild was born. She wore the name Granny with pride and was never happier than when she was with any of her four grandchildren. Granny made the best blanket forts, told the best bedtime stories, had the best lap to sit in, and never made the grandchildren clean up when they left so that everything would still be there for them when they came back. Every single day during the summer, at 2:30, she made coke floats for whichever grandchildren and friends happened to be over. I know it's only two ingredients, but her grandchildren swear that nobody could make a coke float like Granny. She loved to cook, bake, read books, and talk to people. She could be found reading a book every chance she got and accumulated a collection of hundreds of books. Her greatest joy in life was her family. She was blessed to have her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all living close to her. Granny knew what was important in life; she cherished every single moment she had with her family, and she was extremely close to her sister and brothers and loved to keep up with her numerous nieces and nephews.
Babies were Granny's favorite thing in the world. All was right in Granny's world when there was a baby in her arms, and when her first great-grandchild was placed in her arms in 2012, she said, "I've been waiting for this!" In her last months, baby dolls brought her comfort, and her great-grandchildren loved to pile her lap with their dolls.
In the end, she slept peacefully while she waited for Jesus to come take her. Upon seeing her in her last days, her great-granddaughter Eden said, "She's beautiful. No wonder Pops wanted to marry her."
Geroldine was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, James, who died at age 3, Gary (Sonny) Walley, and Donnie Walley, father and mother-in-law, Ben and Mary (Dungen) Marek, and sister-in-law, Joyce (Suchadoll) Marek. She leaves behind to cherish her memories: her husband of 66 years, Gene, sons and daughter in-laws, Harold, Jr. and Robin Marek, James and Susie Marek, all of New Ulm. Grandchildren, Jenni Hargrave and husband Dustin of New Ulm, Marshall Marek and wife Audrey of Cat Spring, Mason Marek and wife Taylar of New Ulm, Cameron Marek and girlfriend Lindsey of New Ulm, Allison Drobniak and husband David of Houston, Steven Miller and wife Tammy of Crowley, Texas. Great-grandchildren, Eden, Ila and James Hargrave, Harrison and Rosey Marek, Rylen, Willow and Hallie Marek, Blake Drobniak, Christopher and Timothy Miller, her sister Jeronee Dibbens and husband Eddie of The Woodlands, brothers, Larry Walley and wife Susie of Mexia, Texas and Ronnie Walley and wife Eileen of Salem, Oregon. She is also survived by brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ben and Ora Lee Marek of New Ulm, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 18, 2020 at St. John Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. The service will begin at 2:00 PM with Pastor Glenn Hohlt officiating. Pallbearers will be Dustin Hargrave, Marshall Marek, Mason Marek, Cameron Marek, Greg Walley and John Walley. Honorary pallbearers will be her great grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, Texas.
Memorials may be given to St. John Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 1270, New Ulm, TX 78950.