Peter Leon Jurica Sr.

Peter Leon Jurica Sr. of Schulenburg was called to be with our Lord and Saviour on Friday, July 31, 2020. He was born on May 19, 1923 in St. John.

Pete is survived by daughters, Janice Somyak and husband Bill, Susan Jurica, and Carol Jurica Jordan; sons, Joseph Jurica and wife Delia, Peter Jurica Jr. and wife Connie, and Ronald Jurica; seven grandchildren, Mark Somyak and wife Sandy, Trace Jurica, Joseph Jurica, Shawn Jurica and wife Lezlee, Penny Jurica, Jessica Free and husband Tyler, and Jonathan Jordan; three great-grandchildren, Ally Jurica, Porter Jurica and Keefer Jurica; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Virginia; parents John and Veronica Jurica; six brothers, Victor, Eddie, Willie, Marcel, John and Alfonse; three sisters, Martha, Tillie and Olga; his son, Daniel Ray Jurica; and grandson, Jeremy Jurica.

Pete was raised in St. John, where he attended St. John’s School. On June 30, 1943, Pete joined the Merchant Marines at 20 years of age. He served from 1943 until the end of WWII in 1945. During this time, he participated in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Middle East and Pacific theatres of war culminating with the liberation of the Philippines.

After WWII, Pete made his way home to Schulenburg where he met his wife Virginia and they were married on Nov. 17, 1946. Work took Pete and Virginia to Memphis, Tennessee where they lived for a short time. They moved back to Texas to be closer to family, settling for a time in Weslaco, where Pete was a plumber. One more move took them to Houston, where Pete took a job as a city bus driver and an iron ore delivery driver. Pete would visit Schulenburg and surrounding areas almost every weekend and began purchasing eggs from relatives and other farms to sell in Houston. Thus began his egg distribution business, Jurica Egg Company, which he worked until his retirement.

Family was always of utmost importance to Pete. Every wedding, family reunion, funeral, birthday, birth, anniversary, or family celebration of any kind, you would find Pete there. He simply loved his family, all of it. He rarely missed any of these get-togethers.

Pete provided a beautiful home for his family – full of love and joy. Pete enjoyed travelling, going to casinos, dancing and family gatherings. He particularly enjoyed a cold beer after a long day at work and he was seldom seen without his pipe of which he partook of regularly.

He was a kind gentle man who treated every person he encountered with respect. He will be greatly missed and loved by all.