Virginia Wagner Kainer

Virginia Wagner Kainer ended her journey on this earth on Saturday, January 15, 2022. She went home to be with her Heavenly Father, beloved husband Leo, son James, and other family and friends who preceded her in death. Virginia was born in Cistern, Texas, in 1939 to Margaret and Charlie Joe Wagner Sr. She spent her childhood there as the oldest of seven children. Following the death of her mother, Virginia and her family welcomed their step-mother Emily and her two daughters.

Virginia graduated from Schulenburg High School in 1957. She married Leo Kainer in 1958 and enjoyed a loving marriage of 59 years. Watching their love over the years included witnessing them holding hands whenever they were together. Virginia spent years traveling with her beloved husband and shared many adventures with him around the globe. Virginia and Leo raised their five children in Beaumont, Houston and Katy, and spent a great deal of time volunteering with their children’s many activities. Virginia served as team mom, committee member, board member, booster club member, and all-around cheerleader for her children’s many activities. Being their biggest supporter brought her much joy.

Virginia adored her husband and loved her children beyond measure, but it’s a safe bet that her favorite role was that of grandmother. Oh, how she adored each and every one of her grandchildren – talk about seeing her face light up! Besides doting on her family, Virginia loved cooking, baking, birdwatching, sewing, dancing and country music, especially her favorite polkas, waltzes and hymns. She had such fun sharing these great loves with her children and grandchildren.

After Leo and Virginia retired, they moved back to Schulenburg where they lived and loved for more than 20 years. They shared a great love of their community in High Hill. It was of great importance to Virginia that she continued to live in her home in High Hill following Leo’s death, and the family is immensely grateful that she was able to do that.

Virginia had a great love for God and was a faithful servant her entire life. While raising her family in Katy, Virginia was an active member of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church in Katy and spent many years working in the St. Bartholomew office. After retiring, she and Leo were active in their parish of St. Mary Catholic Church in High Hill. Virginia and Leo prayed the rosary every night, and Virginia continued that until her last day on earth. She remembered her family and friends in her daily prayers and was especially prayerful over those in need. If you knew her, you were probably in her prayers along the way.

Virginia loved laughter and prayer and shared both in indescribably large doses with her family and friends. The family has many memories and photos of her laughing out loud. It also brought her great joy to make special gestures for her family and friends, be it baking, sending beautiful cards, sharing her ornament tradition, or making her grandchildren’s favorite meal when she knew they were coming for a visit. She spent a great deal of time thinking of others.

She enjoyed playing games with her family, visits with her neighbors, family gatherings of all kinds, taking and collecting photos, and she hugged many a stranger if they were particularly kind to her or touched her heart in some way. She was a three-time cancer survivor and an incredibly strong person. She was an inspiration to her family and friends, and it is certain that her love, light and faith will live on in her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all who knew and loved her.

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband Leo Kainer, son James Kainer, parents Charlie Wagner Sr. and Margaret Wagner, stepmother Emily Wagner, brothers-in-law Cyril Muras, Danny Janacek, Erwin Kainer, and step-sister Margaret Nagelmueller.

She is survived by daughters Sandra Shaw and her husband Jack of Katy, and Terri Kainer and her husband Matthew of Katy; sons Mark Kainer and his wife Diane of Blanco, and Roger Kainer and his wife Susan of Canyon Lake; daughter-in-law Elizabeth Kainer of Cypress; as well as 13 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Mary Muras of Hostyn, Josie Kubenka and her husband Alphonse of Praha, Barbara Janacek of La Grange, and step-sister Frances Watson and her husband Terry of Beaumont; brothers Lawrence Wagner and his wife Marcella of Hallettsville, Charlie Wagner and his wife Terri of Engle, and Michael Wagner and his wife Linda of La Grange. In addition, she is survived by her sisters-in-law Isabel Respondek and her husband John of Lake Jackson, and Rita Kainer of Houston; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Virginia were held on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, at St. Mary Catholic Church. Fr. Scott Hill officiated with the assistance of lifelong family friend Deacon William Wagner. Friend and classmate Willy Schmidt participated as altar server. Pallbearers included grandsons John Mark Handley-Kainer, Dylan Kainer, Kolby Kainer, Keaton Kainer, Jacob Kainer, and grandson-in-law Jose Vasquez. Honorary pallbearers included her granddaughters Elizabeth Shaw, Cristina Vasquez, Kendall Kainer, Kelsey Bakken, Hallie Tucker, Keeley Kainer, Taylor Roselius, and Rachel Febbraio, and great grandchildren Christian Vasquez, Noah Vasquez, Jackson Vasquez, Adaline Tucker, Emma Tucker, and Kannon Kainer. “We love you to Jesus and back, Grandma.”

Her family writes: “We thank the Lord for the gift of Virginia, and we ask God for the courage to rejoice in the precious memories we have of her and for the ability to understand that although we will miss her terribly, this is truly a glorious time for her. We celebrate her life and her arrival into Heaven and ask God to bless her and watch over her forever. Virginia was likely met at Heaven’s gate with this greeting: ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant, well done.’”