Gary Greener

Gary Wayne Greener, age 32, of West, passed away early Thursday afternoon, October 14, 2021 at Providence Health Center in Waco. A rosary will be recited 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, followed by visitation until 9:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek and Rev. Timothy Vaverek as celebrants. LIVE STREAM of the service will be provided. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Gary was born on April 26, 1989 in Temple, the son of Donald and Charlene (Svacek) Greener. He was a 2006 graduate of West High School. He attended Texas State Technical College in Waco and graduated in 2009 with Associate Degrees in Applied Sciences with concentration in Diesel Mechanics. On April 11, 2015, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Kara Walker, in Ennis. On January 5, 2017, they welcomed their precious daughter, Jodi Rose, and from then on she was daddy's little girl and the light of his life. Gary was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West. Gary worked for several businesses in the area including West Furniture, West Food Mart, Billiards of Texas, Buzbee Feed and Seed Store, Taking Care of Business Portable Facilities, City of Waco, McLennan County Precinct 3, and was currently teaching Diesel Mechanics at TSTC in Waco. Gary was one of the kindest, most honest, hard working, warm, friendly, and welcoming people you would ever meet! He never met a stranger and could sit and visit with anyone. He was very talented and played many instruments, including the drums, saxophone, bass, keyboard, accordion, and the guitar. His true passion was polka music, just like his Dad, Grandma & Grandpa Greener, and uncles, Randy and Butch. He learned to play drums sitting behind his Dad as he played at various events with Cen-Tex Polka Band. On the weekends, Gary & Kara traveled far and wide so Gary could promote Czech & German heritage and play our beloved polka music with Fritz Hodde Polka Band "The Fabulous Six" and the All Around Czechs, often sitting in with other bands when they needed him. Gary also volunteered with the West Volunteer Fire Department. He loved to just hang out and drink a pivo, go to concerts, fish, BBQ, and watch college and pro baseball and football games. Spending time with his friends and family was something he loved to do. Gary is also preceded in death by father, Donald Greener; father-in-law, James Walker; and grandparents, Walter and Lucille Greener and Harry and Rita Svacek Sr.; uncles, Bill Greener and Vernon Greener Sr. Survivors include his beloved wife of six years, Kara; his daughter, Jodi Rose; his mother and stepfather, Charlene and Henk Heemels, of West; sister, Gina Roberts and husband Haze of Sanderson; brother-in-law, Hardy Walker and wife Peggy of Ennis; a niece and two nephews, Hayleigh, Hudson, and Cash; mother-in-law, Patti Walker of Ennis; and many aunts, uncles, other relatives, and numerous friends. Active pallbearers are Haze Roberts, Hardy Walker, Brandon Hodde, Scott Hodde, Michael Pliscott, Milan Dujka III, James Nemec, Daniel Phillips, Kent Kahler, Kenny Chudej, Joshua Holy, and Larry Wollard. Honorary pallbearers are West Volunteer Fire Department, TSTC Diesel Department, members of Fritz Hodde and the Fabulous Six Band and their families, and All Around Czechs and their families. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Educational Fund for his daughter, Jodi at PointWest Bank in West.