Sylvester “Syl” John Kucera

Sylvester “Syl” Kucera, 90, of Lumberton, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2017, at his residence. He was born on December 28, 1926, in Hungerford, to Agnes Brandl Kucera and John Kucera.

Syl was raised in the Hungerford area and attended school there. He married Merle Laverne Rieger on January 20, 1951, in Wharton. He served his country proudly in the United States Army. A longtime resident of Beaumont and Lumberton, he retired from Texas Gulf Sulphur where he worked in the lab department.

Syl loved hunting, fishing, gardening, and was a jack of all trades. He was a mechanic, carpenter, and could do about everything. Most importantly, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a devout Christian. He was a Catholic member of the KJZT.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-six years, Merle Kucera of Lumberton; children, Greg Kucera and his wife, Vicki of Hillister; Mark Kucera and his wife, Lois, of Lumberton; and Debbie Overstreet and her husband, Walter, of Zavalla; grandchildren, Leigha Kucera, Megan Kucera, Matthew Kucera, and Cory Overstreet; great-grandchild, Savanna Walzel. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Martha Kovar and Agnes Polasek; and brother, Simon Kucera.

The family would like to thank Calvin Bourque and Jackie Coleman, our caregivers, for the love, special care, and attentiveness they gave Syl during his illness. A special thanks to Texas Total Care, Inc.

A gathering of family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 6, 2017, at Infant Jesus Catholic Church, 243 South LHS Drive, Lumberton. Interment will follow at Pine Ridge Cemetery, Kountze.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Infant Jesus Catholic Church, P.O. Box 8180 Lumberton, Texas 77657 or the Alzheimer’s Association 700 North Street Suite M Beaumont, Texas 77701, in memory of Sylvester Kucera.