William Joseph Dworaczyk

William Joseph Dworaczyk, of Yorktown, Texas, passed away on November 14, 2023.  William, Bill, Willie, Mr. Bill, Papa Rotzyk, Papa D, and Papa were many names used to refer to him throughout his life by those who knew, cared for and loved him.  He was born, as he jokingly referred to it, “in the bed” to Arkadeus (A.R.) and Weronika (Veronica) Muschalek Dworaczyk on April 6, 1927.  The bed happened to be out in the country on the family farm in the community known as Cotton Patch in DeWitt County.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings, Ben Dworaczyk, Emily Scheffler, Eleanor Dupnik, Mary Warzecha, Cecilia Dworaczyk, Veronica Richter, Daniel Dworaczyk, Celestine Dworaczyk, Sister Mary Wenceslaus Dworaczyk, Sister Margaret Ann Dworaczyk, Martin Dworaczyk, Alphonse Dworaczyk and other children who either died in birth or early infancy. William was the second to last in birth order, the last of his line, and lived longer, age wise, than all of his siblings.

William was a devout Catholic and Holy Cross Catholic Church was his church home his entire life.  His father was on the committee that erected the current church building, as indicated on the cornerstone of the church.  He and his siblings attended Holy Cross School, living a short walk away on Community Hall Road.  When not in town for church or school, the family lived and worked on the farm in Cotton Patch, fourteen miles away. The older sisters of the family ran the house in town and cared for the younger siblings during the week.

Always a storyteller, William had many remembrances to tell of the “good old days” when everything was done by hand on the farm.  There was always work to be done, from sun up to sun down. He loved farming and preferred to be outside plowing a field, fixing a John Deere tractor, feeding cattle or any of the endless farm tasks. He spent almost his entire life outside under the Texas sky farming and ranching.  It is fitting that he took his final breath at the moment the sun set on November 14.

He spent time away from the farm and the Yorktown community when he was drafted near the end of World War II and was stationed in Whittier, Alaska, which functioned as a supply support location. Four of his older brothers also served in the war all in different places around the globe.

Following his military service, William married Dolores Rabke with whom he had three sons and two daughters whom he lovingly referred to as his “full house”, (three jacks and two queens). They include:  Patrick Dworaczyk (Rene), their two children Patrick Dworaczyk Jr. (Misty),  and Ashley Markos (Clayton), and Jamie Dworaczyk;  Diana Dworaczyk (Kurt Lemke),  children Kami Lemke (Jared Luther), and Aaron Lemke; Cheryl Koopmann (Walter),  children Weston Koopmann and Cara Reese (Trevor); Harold Dworaczyk (Holly), children Brynn Foulds (Cliff) and Macee Dworaczyk; and Marvin Dworaczyk.  He is also survived by 10 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren.

Farming was hard work and did not always pay the bills, so William spent many years working in the Yorktown community as a carpenter and later as an oil field worker in South Texas.

William enjoyed rising early in the mornings to fry up some sausage for an early morning fishing adventure to the coast, or to start a mesquite wood fire for an afternoon family barbeque of one inch thick pork chops and occasionally slightly over cooked chicken. He perfected a technique of speeding up the process for barbeque coals involving a lawnmower.  It was genius in some ways. He loved a game of dominoes and a cold beer. He shared his love of fishing and hunting with all of his family, teaching them how to put a worm on a hook, watch a bobber, cast a line into the Gulf, take aim on a flying dove and so much more.  He enjoyed a tobacco chew, a good joke and making his friends and family laugh. He loved his faith and his family.

The family is immensely grateful for the caregivers that lovingly watched over him either in Yorktown or Cuero and are especially grateful to Alzcare of DeWitt County in Cuero and Hospice of South Texas.  Even at the end, he maintained his wit and sense of humor.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Lemke, Weston Koopmann, Ethan Dworaczyk, Patrick Dworaczyk, Jr., Cliff Foulds, and Clayton Markos.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Cara Reese, Kami Lemke, Brynn Foulds, Macee Dworaczyk, Ashley Markos, Misty Dworaczyk, Trevor Reese and Jared Luther.

Memorials may be given to Holy Cross Catholic Church or Hospice of South Texas.

Visitation will be at 11:30 am and Rosary will begin at 12:30 pm and Funeral Mass beginning at 1 pm Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

As William would always say:  “Glad you got to see me.”

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