James "Smokey" Smolka

James went to be with God the evening of October 8, 2024 – all know him as “Smokey”. Smokey retired from Britt Rice Electric and was blessed with many years of retirement so he and his wife ‛B′ could visit his daughter in South Padre come back home, and he would again start planning deer hunting season whether it be in Texas, Nebraska or their ranch in College Station.

Smokey moved from San Antonio to College Station, Texas to marry ‛B′ the love of his life enjoying 35 years together until God took Smokey home while he was doing what he enjoyed all his life hunting, checking his game cameras and deer blinds at their ranch. He had a wealth of seemingly endless knowledge about wildlife and the rest of the great outdoors.

Smokey and ‛B′ loved spending time at their ranch in College Station where he passionately enjoyed working with their livestock, rabbits, fishing, taking care of their properties and getting ready for next deer hunting season, setting up game cameras, and deer blinds for their relatives and friends to enjoy during season.

Dan Renter, Mark Weise (neighbors) and Smokey were like family. They enjoyed hunting, fishing and working on projects together. I wish to thank each of them for the time and fun they spent together, for making Smokey’s life and retirement so enjoyable,and for all the help they and their families have extended me during this unexpected time.

Smokey lived a full, retired, rich life and had a kind, generous and loving heart. He will always be remembered as a gentle-spirited, giant of a man coming up with his unbelievable projects, he was very innovative to say the least, with a quiet unassuming manner that drew people to him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary (Kyrish) Smolka; brothers, Adrian, Raymond, Norman and Fabian Smolka; brother-in-law, Lucian Laskowski; sisters-in-law, Diane and Patsy Smolka; Father-in-law and mother-in-law Ike and Lydia Krenek; and his beloved dog, Freddie.

Smokey is survived by the love of his life, Bernice ‛B′; daughter, Samantha Balderas and her husband, Louis; Son, John Smolka, stepson, Wes Riley, Jr. and his wife; step-grandchildren, Tripp, Tate, Levi and Lexi Riley; Sisters, Rosalie Urbanczyk and her husband, Lucian, Caroline Laskowski; brother, Melvin Smolka and his wife Florence; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held 2:30pm Wednesday, October 23rd 2024 at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Interment will follow at Memorial Cemetery of College Station.

Smokey will, without a doubt, be deeply and infinitely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him, and especially by his wife ‛B′ the love of her life. He was a beloved husband, father, step-father, step-grandfather.