William C. “Billy” Mensik, 86, of Ammannsville, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, July 31, 2021 in La Grange.
He was born in La Grange on Jan. 11, 1935, the son of William and Mary (Sobotik) Mensik of Ammannsville. On June 10, 1961, Billy married Rita Dobrava at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Grange with their wedding reception at the Ammannsville KJT Hall where they first met the year before at the church picnic. They were blessed with sixty years of marriage and one daughter.
He attended St. Rose School and completed ninth grade at Schulenburg High School. After helping on the farm, Billy moved to Houston in 1955 to work for Elgin Schultz Trucking and received his GED. In 1957, he began his 24-year career at Weingarten’s Grocery Store in Houston. He was transferred to Freeport in 1960 where he continued with the company as produce manager for 21 years. The family loved spending every other weekend and summers at their farm near Ammannsville, which they purchased in 1961, later built a home on, and moved to in 1981. Billy worked as night manager and then as produce manager at Super S Grocery Store in La Grange for 19 years. He retired in 2000, working 43 years in the grocery business. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ammannsville and a member of the KJT.
Billy loved his family, farm, cattle and pets, and he and Rita took great pride in taking care of their home, yard and land. He was a proud Aggie dad, a very dedicated employee, and had a strong devotion to his Catholic faith. Billy enjoyed going out to eat often with his family, listening to polkas and waltzes, and watching Wheel of Fortune and the Molly B Polka Show. He looked forward to working at the Ammannsville Church Picnic for many years and visiting with friends at Tofel’s Place and at the former Justin Bartos Drugstore in Ammannsville. Billy cherished the friendships he made with the employees of Super S Grocery and with his customers that he enjoyed seeing throughout the years. He was a loving husband, father and father-in-law who will be greatly missed.
Billy is survived by his wife Rita of Ammannsville, and daughter Terri Ahlschlager and her husband Willie of La Grange. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and two brothers.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 from noon to 7 p.m. at Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations in La Grange. A Holy Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. led by Kevin Kana. A Funeral Mass was held at 2:30 p.m. at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ammannsville on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021 with Fr. Scott Hill officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Travis Mensik, godson; Dean Ahlschlager, Butch Gaddes, Pete Krnavek, Tom Tofel, George Tofel and Ernie Matura, friends; and Steve Lorentzson, nephew. Honorary pallbearers were Greg Mensik, godson; Ernest Mensik, Thomas Mensik, Henry Miksch, Cletus Mensik, Teddy Mensik, Leroy Mensik and Wilbert Cernosek, cousins; and Doug Ahlschlager, friend.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ammannsville KJT Building Fund; to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 7745 Mensik Road, Schulenburg, TX 78956; to the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter, 240 Svoboda Lane, La Grange, TX 78945; or to the charity of one’s choice.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations in La Grange. Online condolences may be given at www. lagrangefunerals.com.