Jerry Kucera, Jr.

Jerry E. Kucera Jr., age 62, of West, passed away early Sunday morning, March 27, 2022 at Providence Health Center in Waco. A rosary will be recited 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel by Deacon Robin Waters, followed by visitation until 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 31, 2022 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek and Rev. Timothy Vaverek as celebrants, and Deacon Ronnie Sykora and Deacon Denver Crawley assisting. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Jerry was born January 31, 1960 in Waco, the son of Jerry and Dorothy (Kotrla) Kucera. He was a 1979 graduate of West High School and lived his entire 62 years at home with his parents. Jerry worked for Goodwill Industries in Waco before not being able to physically work any longer. Everybody in West knew Jerry as JR and enjoyed his kind soul. He was a frequent visitor spending time at Sykora Family Ford and the Chevrolet House in West. Many people recall JR always asking "you know how come" when he was explaining things to them or how he was going to "get them good". Although JR was a person with an intellectual disability, he touched the hearts of many in the community by always making them laugh and giving them hope by lifting their spirits. JR had an exceptional imagination and enjoyed sharing that with others in the community. Although he was never able to drive, he always had a story mainly about how he would challenge you to race and beat the vehicle you were driving. He liked to tell stories and loved visiting with others who would listen to him. If JR was joking or talking smack with you that was one of his ways to express his love and friendship for you. His hobbies included fishing, collecting random items (especially keychains people would buy him while vacationing), watching TV, and playing video games. He also enjoyed mowing his grandmother's vacant lot and driving around the neighborhood on his Husqvarna riding mower with Sykora Family Ford emblems. Above all, he enjoyed family time, going for rides around town in new Ford vehicles with his friends from Sykora's, calling his close friends at night to tell them goodnight, and eating BBQ with his family or friends who would cook for him. Jerry is preceded in death by his father, Jerry Kucera, Sr; maternal grandparents, Arnold and Irene (Matustik) Kotrla; and paternal grandparents, Emil and Josephine (Grellhesl) Kucera. Survivors include his mother, Dorothy Kucera of West; siblings, Monica Ferguson and husband Dan of Waco, Paul Kucera and wife Loretta of West, Steven Kucera and wife Stephanie of West, and Angela Thompson and husband Tony of North Richland Hills; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Kenny Sykora, Larry Sykora, George Fidler, Tommy Webre, Jason McCartney, Darren Sinkule, Ronny Owens, and Tommy Petter. Honorary pallbearers are his nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Cemetery Association Pavilion Account. The family would like to thank the medical staff at Providence for their loving care for JR and to Dr. George Smith of West.