Willie Bernard Vrabel

Willie Bernard Vrabel, 88 years young, of Austin, Texas passed away March 26th, 2023, after a brief but fearless battle with Covid-19 pneumonia. He (Pops) peacefully accepted his eternal heavenly reward as he was surrounded by his loved ones in a local hospital in Pflugerville, Texas.

Willie Bernard Vrabel (Jr.) was the firstborn to the proud parents of Willie Alois Vrabel (Sr.) and Stephanie (Steffi) Valis Vrabel of Jarrell, Texas on September 20th, 1934. Next came siblings Daniel Vrabel, Mary Vrabel Koch, Milton Vrabel, Kenneth Vrabel, and Jean Vrabel Buchhorn.

Willie was born at the height of the Great Depression (1929-1939), and socio-economic times were very hard for many families. The Vrabel family persevered because of their unwavering Catholic faith, tenacious work ethic, total commitment, and reliance upon one another as a family.

In his childhood and teenage years, Willie worked to help support the family, mostly by farming their crops of cotton, maize, and corn. Sometimes farm implements were used, but most harvesting was done by hand. As a young adult and throughout his adult life, Willie had two primary occupations: cattle and front-end auto mechanic.

Willie, although a quiet, gentle, and reserved man, was extremely passionate about the very few things in his life that were special enough to capture his interest. He was known to appreciate the chest-vibrating rumble of a Harley Davidson whizzing by. At one point in his life, he was the proud owner of an Indian Chief motorcycle, and much later a Harley Davidson Road King Police Cruiser.

The one passion that remained the rest of his life was when he fell in love with Wilma Vrabel (Everett). In 1957, when Willie was twenty-two, he and Wilma were married at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Georgetown, Texas. Over time they were blessed with four children: Bobby Vrabel, Paul Vrabel, Joan Vrabel (Ancy), and Mark Vrabel. Willie and Wilma were married for over 65 years at the time of his passing.

In 1969, after the birth of their daughter Joan, Willie and Wilma decided to relocate their family to a small farm outside the rural town of Venus, Texas where they lived for the next 15 years. Eventually the family moved back closer to their roots and bought a 100-acre farm east of Salado, Texas. There they built a homestead that included an underground house. Eventually Willie retired from mechanic work. But before he did, he could no longer quell the smoldering interest he harbored for accordion music, so Willie taught himself to play the accordion. Eventually he took music lessons in order to be able to play with a band. Willie excelled at this, and it truly became a part of who he was.

Willie always enjoyed making people smile. Playing accordion music for people was a natural avenue for this to happen. In his retirement, Willie was on a regular entertainment schedule at multiple nursing homes in Central Texas. Donating his time and talent in this way was his channel for giving back, “even if a little” (His words). He was a member of the Central Texas Accordion Club, The Moravian Club, and a parishioner at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. All of which afforded him the opportunity to spread joy.

Willie Vrabel is preceded in death by both of his parents Willie Alois Vrabel (Sr.) and Stephanie (Steffi) Valis Vrabel of Jarrell.

Willie is survived by Wilma Everett Vrabel of Austin Texas, his loving wife and best friend for over 65 years; two sisters: Mary Vrabel Koch and husband Herb of Georgetown and Jean Vrabel Buchhorn and husband Richard of Georgetown; three brothers: Daniel Vrabel and wife Wanda of Georgetown, Milton Vrabel and wife Beth of Georgetown, and Kenneth Vrabel and wife Debby of Jarrell. He is also survived by his four children: Bobby Vrabel and wife Jody of Lodi, California; Paul Vrabel and wife Brenda of Mansfield, Texas; Joan Vrabel Ancy and husband Tom of Conroe, Texas; and Mark Vrabel and the love of his life Brenda Richter both of Pflugerville. Additionally, Willie is survived by four grandchildren: Amy Beyer of Austin, Texas; Daniel Vrabel of Marysville, California; Amanda Vrabel of Lodi, California; and Savannah Vrabel of Missoula, Montana., Dozens of cousins, nieces, and nephews that Willie adored.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made in honor of Willie Vrabel to:

Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Attention: Building Fund

8626 FM 1105

Jarrell, Texas 76537

Donations can also be made online at https://holytrinityofcornhill.org . Then select the blue “GIVE ONLINE” button.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Mohammad Malik; Nurses (Super) Nova, Jennifer, and Patricia; and Respiratory Therapists Robert Day, Jon, and Sara for the exceptional, compassionate, state-of-the-art care they consistently provided to Willie in his final days at Baylor Scott and White Pflugerville.