RITCHEA-GONZALES FUNERAL HOME
Family Owned & Operated Since 1978
Peggy Jean (Kosman) Polasek
Sinton, Tx
Peggy Jean (Kosman) Polasek, died August 23, 2024 at the age of 92.
She was born in Houston, Texas to Raymond William and Rosa Mae Kosman, her beloved, lifelong role models. Peggy attended Catholic schools when she was growing up, graduating from St. Agnes Academy in Houston in 1951. In grade school, Peggy studied piano and grew to be a talented pianist who was invited to perform with her school band in 8th grade. As an adult, she enjoyed playing the piano for her children to dance and sing along with.
After high school, Peggy attended the University of Houston for two years to become a flight attendant for Trans-Texas Airways, a commuter airline in the Southwest. Peggy loved the nine months she spent as a flight attendant, but Emil James Polasek persuaded her to slip a ring on her finger after those nine months. In her day, flight attendants were not allowed to continue working if they were married, but she never gave up her love of flying.
Peggy always said that Emil's and her shared love of their Catholic faith was the primary basis for their 44-year marriage. Both were graduates of Catholic preparatory high schools, Peggy in Houston and Emil at the Corpus Christi Academy where their oldest son later attended.
Peggy and Emil were excited to begin their lives together in Corpus Christi, where Emil was raised as the 13th of 14 children. In 1955, after marrying Emil on February 19, Peggy moved to Emil's family farm in Corpus Christi where they raised three sons and two daughters. Peggy quickly transitioned from her life as a big-city Houston girl to the wife of a South Texas farmer, telling Emil before they tied the knot that a few things she would not do as his wife included raising chickens, cows, or goats.
Instead, nine months after their wedding, their first son, Gary, made his appearance and Peggy began assiduously raising children. In short order, Rebecca, Mary Kay, David, and Paul joined the family. Emil and Peggy were active members of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church during their years in Corpus Christi, educating their children at the school there.
After seventeen years on the family farm in Corpus Christi, Emil bought his own farm in Sinton and relocated the family there. In Sinton, Peggy loved her years teaching CCD to youngsters at her new church, Sacred Heart. She also served as the president of KJZT, a Catholic Czech Fraternal Insurance Order, for many years.
Peggy remained on the farm after Emil died in 2000, rejoined by her youngest son and caregiver, Paul. In the years after Emil's death, Peggy often pointed to her greatest source of accomplishment and joy, the fact that all five of her adult children share their parents' love of the Catholic faith.
Peggy was preceded in death by her husband Emil and her parents. She is survived by her five children, Gary (Nancy) Polasek, Becky (Michael) Duerr, Mary Kay (Brad) Wakely, David (Linda) Polasek, and Paul Polasek. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Laura (Alex) Barretto and Sarah (Luke) Boyea; Theresa (Stephen) Ray, Michelle (Zane) Stehling, Daniel Duerr, Nick Duerr and Mary Duerr; and Brian (Gaby) Wakely, Kevin (Hannah) Wakely and Kyle (Marianna) Wakely. Seventeen great-grandchlidren (and one on the way) called Peggy great-grandmother. Great-grandchildren include Gary and Nancy's grandchildren, Jacob, Lucas and Ella Barretto; and Chloe and Caleb Boyea. Becky and Michael's grandchildren are Andrew, Frances Ann, Kateri, Regina, Samuel and Charles Ray; and Elijah, Jonah and Zellie Stehling. Mary Kay and Brad's grandchildren are Jayce (and new sister Emma due in September) Wakely; and Christopher and Elizabeth Wakely. Peggy is also survived by her sister, Dianne (Butch) Maywald and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. on Friday, August 30, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 906 E. Sinton St./Sinton, Texas. A rosary for Peggy, led by her son-in-law, Deacon Brad Wakely, will be held at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of Sacred Heart. Peggy’s funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with interment immediately following at Seaside Memorial Cemetery in Corpus Christi. A luncheon in the Sacred Heart parish hall will follow the interment. In lieu of flowers, please offer Masses for Peggy’s soul or donate to the charity of your choice in her name.
Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Nick Duerr, Kevin Wakely and Kyle Wakely, and her grandsons-in-law, Alex Barretto, Luke Boyea, and Zane Stehling.