Bill Swamp Pokluda

Bill "Swamp" Pokluda, age 69, of West, passed away Tuesday evening, December 24, 2013 at his residence. A rosary will be recited 6:00 p.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with visitation until 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Bill was born November 24, 1944 in West, the son of Willie Joe and Frances (Pustejovsky) Pokluda. He attended Aquilla and St. Mary's School prior to graduating from West High School in 1963. Bill was the Facilities Director for McLennan County for 26 years before retiring in 2008. He also had worked for Steakley Brother and General Dynamics in Waco and for Czech Way Builders in West. Bill was a lifelong and faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus in West where he was a 4th Degree Knight, where he volunteered for all their events and picnics. He was a former director of the West Baseball Association and coached the West Fertilizer and West KC Teams. Bill enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, working on cars, being outdoors, playing the guitar and singing for the Kaluza Polka Band, and going on gambling trips. He especially loved attending all his children's sporting events and spending time with his grandchildren. Bill is preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his beloved wife of 46 years, Lou Pokluda of West; two sons, Damon Pokluda and Devin "Bubba" Pokluda and wife Rachel, all of West; a daughter, Dana Gerick and husband Nathan of China Spring; a brother, Daniel Pokluda and wife Jeanette; four sisters, Willie Mae Holecek, Georgia Juricek, Lois Ann Turley, and Doris Hutyra and her husband Roy; grandchildren, McKinsey, Gage, Mia, Landyn and Layla; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Pallbearers are T.J. Holecek, Roy James Hutyra, Glenn Vrba, Steve McMillan, Stephen Hrabal, Louis Hajek, Andy Grmela and Nathan Gerick. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus Playground Fund, Men's Acts, or to Teen Acts.