Gerald D. Jurica

Gerald Jurica was born in Cameron County, Texas on July 19, 1941 to Lilly and Henry Jurica. Gerald grew up in the south side of Corpus Christi, where his family farmed. Gerald was very involved with FFA and was a state officer and won many awards at the yearly Robstown Stock Show. After graduating from West Oso High School he went to Texas A@I in Kingsville. He was very involved with campus and Fraternity activities. He took pride in his involvement with the well known Kings Rifles at Texas A&I. Gerald and 3 of this friends were instrumental in starting Sigma Rho fraternity, which became Sigma Chi on the Texas A&I/Texas A&M-Kingsville campus. At A&I, Gerald met his wife of 46 years, Vicki and they were married August 29, 1964. After he finished his master’s Degree in 1967 he worked for RCA Computer Division as a programmer and was assigned to Corpus Christi First State Bank. He and his wife moved to Portland and lived there until they moved to New Braunfels. During his time in Portland, he was involved with Portland JC’s, Little League Baseball and soccer and Gregory Portland Band Boosters. Gerald and Vicki moved to their home in New Braunfels in 1996 where they hosted many friends and social gatherings and had many visitors over the years come to enjoy the beautiful river and their hospitality. He spent many days outdoors collecting rocks and sticks and growing plants and creating them in parts of the landscaping around the home. In the times of Gerald’s illness, he has received many visitors which always brighten his day.

He is survived by his wife, Vicki; children, Cammi (John) Klier of Austin, Sean (Noey) Jurica of Corpus Christi and Kevin (Jenny) Jurica of Houston; grandchildren, Kaylee and Sydney Klier of Austin, Mari and Luke Jurica of Corpus Christi and Anna and Jack Jurica of Houston ; brothers and sisters, Alfred Jurica of San Antonio, Nancy Corcoran (Jimmy) of Austin, Larry (Dianne) Jurica of George West, Danny (Paula) Jurica of Portland, Charlotte (John) Curtis of Danville, CA., George (Gail) Jurica of Inez, Tx. and Allan (Valerie) Jurica of Corpus Christi; sister-in-law, Tobi Sanderford of Austin; nieces and nephews, Shannon Jurica, Scott Jurica, Ryan Jurica, Chris Corcoran, Kelly Corcoran, Jamie Sauls, Adam Jurica, Hunter Jurica, Cory Jurica, Devonne Jurica, Amanda Jurica, Todd Curtis, Troy Curtis, Candace Curtis, Eric Jurica, Chad Jurica, Austin Jurica, Cameron Jurica, Nicholas Jurica, Corey Sanderford and Zak Sanderford. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Lillie Jurica and his niece, Ashley Jurica and his mother and father-in-law, Henk and Rae van der Meer.

A special thanks goes out to Rosie Pruneda, Gerald’s caregiver since March of 2009; Central Texas Medical Center HOSPICE; The doctors,nurses, aids and Roger the Hospice Chaplain, that paid many visits and made this journey bearable. Special thanks also to Deacon Fred Fey for this help with Viaticum service and to Father Tony Pesek for performing sacraments, most recently the anointing of the sick and to Mary Ellen Landry who brought the Eucharist each week. Thanks to special friends, Pete and Sherron Mireur, Bill and Debbie Jackson, who were always on call and by his side.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Zoeller Funeral Home with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. in the Zoeller Funeral Home chapel. A funeral mass will be conducted on Friday, January 14, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Services will conclude at the church.

Donations in memory of Gerald Jurica can be sent to CTMC Hospice, 1315 IH35N. San Marcos, TX 78666 or to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America Inc., Texas Affiliate, 350 Las Colinas Blvd East, Suite 2092, Irving, TX 75039 or credit cards to [email protected]