William Frank “Bill” Kunetka

William Frank “Bill” Kunetka, 81, of Beaumont, passed away Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Christus Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth, Beaumont. He was born May 18, 1941, in El Campo, to Bertha Ann Dressler Kunetka and Willie Walter Kunetka.

Bill graduated from Lamar University in 1964 with a civil engineering degree and later earned his professional engineering license. He worked for 31 years at the Mobil Oil refinery as an engineer. After retiring early, the enjoyment of working on engineering projects drew him back to the refinery through various contract companies in the past several years. During his retirement, Bill enjoyed many days at his lake cabin at Sam Rayburn with his wife, Barbara. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening, woodworking, and working on his family genealogy.

Bill, happily known as Pa for 34 years, was an avid sports fan. Early on, he enjoyed coaching his children’s recreational sports teams, and in recent years, he loved watching college and professional sports with Barbara, also known as Gee. Gee and Pa attended many of their grandchildren’s sports and activities as they grew up. In addition, Pa taught several of them to ride a bike, to fish, to water ski, and to drive, all with great patience, and enjoyed hunting with his grandsons.

Bill built his own lake house with his longtime friend, Charles Appling, and traveled on many trips with Charles and his wife, Linda. The two couples enjoyed raising their children together and spent a great amount of time at the lake. In their senior years, they have enjoyed attending Bible study classes together and many cups of coffee on the porch at the lake house.

Barbara and Bill are charter members of Saint Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Beaumont where Bill served on the parish council.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 951 and attended an ACTS retreat, followed by serving at many subsequent ACTS retreats.

Bill is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Barbara Kana Kunetka; children, Jamie McCauley and her husband, Scott, of Beaumont; Shelly Burrell and her husband, Troy, of Beaumont; Tracy Walter and her husband, Craig, of Flower Mound; William Keith Kunetka and his wife, Blake, of Houston; grandchildren, Molly Daniels, Maggie McCauley, Cameron Burrell; Cody Burrell; Kayla Walter, Wade Walter, Julia Walter, Will Kunetka, Caroline Kunetka, George Kunetka, and Lucie Kunetka; siblings, Willie Mae Cihal, Betty Kallus, and George Kunetka; and five great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Irene Hurta; and great-granddaughter, Hope Daniels.

Our family would like to thank all the ICU nurses and doctors at St. Elizabeth hospital for their outstanding care and compassion during Bill’s final days. And Gee thanks ICU nurse and granddaughter, Kayla, who guided her through the week as a medical liaison and cared for Pa as she would her own patient.

Memorial contributions can be made to Lamar University, Hope Daniels Nursing Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 10081, Beaumont, Texas 77710, (Donate Here) or St Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 6825 Gladys Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77706.

A gathering of Mr. Kunetka’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 24, 2023, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 25, 2023, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 6825 Gladys Avenue, Beaumont. A graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m, Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Holy Cross Memorial Park, 1615 South Mechanic Street, El Campo.