Arlene Theresa (Hotovy) Grubbs of Schulenburg passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, at 8:20 p.m. at Care Inn in La Grange at age 91 years, 10 months, 10 days.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home, with Fr. Isaac Maunger of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church officiating. Interment took place in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery at High Hill. Pallbearers were Bob James, Joe James, James Moody, Craig Decker, Peter Gross and Chris Powell. Rosary was recited at 10 a.m. on Feb. 7 at the funeral home.
She was born on April 11, 1930 to Ja cob and Emily (Hudek) Hotovy in Richardson, Neb. Arlene’s parents were Czechoslovakian immigrants who settled in Butler County, Neb. on a 400-acre farm where they raised livestock and farmed. They had five children together until Jacob’s untimely death. Arlene’s mother married John Kresse and together they continued to farm and raise their children Arlene, Jake, Vergie, Annie, Donnie and John Kresse’s daugther Darlene. Arlene graduated from Assumption High School in Butler County on May 9, 1948. After graduation, Arlene stayed on the family farm until she met and married Bobby “Don” James. Don served in the military and they moved around until they settled in Wichita Falls, Texas, and raised four children, Dona, Kathy, Bob and Joe. After divorcing Don in 1974, Arlene moved to Fort Worth and met and married Ray Grubbs on Dec. 22 1978. Ray and Arlene lived in Fort Worth until Ray’s death on Memorial Day 2019.
Arlene moved to Schulenburg in September 2019 to live with her son Bob on his six-acre farm. Arlene enjoyed living in a Czechoslovakian community and visiting all the Painted Churches. She loved to let her chicken Henrietta sit on her lap while she petted her and told stories of how she took care of the farm animals in Nebraska.
Arlene’s greatest joy in life was raising her four children. Every summer, they would all pile into the family station wagon and head for Nebraska so that she could let them experience the life on the farm she loved so much. Later in life, when Arlene’s children married, the family grew by 22 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Arlene was truly blessed with a big and loving family who will miss her dearly.
Survivors include her two daughters, Dona Decker and Kathy Pennington; two sons, Robert “Bob” James and Joe James; and her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her mother, father, step-father, her two brothers, her two sisters and her step-sister.
Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.