YOAKUM — Juana Perez Alvarado, 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, November 28, 2025. She was born on March 26, 1936, in Mexico to Jesus and Maria Cruz Rodriguez Perez.
Juana devoted her life to her family and faith. A homemaker by heart, she also worked in the fields of California, contributing her strength and dedication to agricultural work. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, she found joy in sharing the good news of God’s Kingdom with everyone she met. Her deep knowledge of the Bible and ability to find scripture with ease were gifts she shared generously.
Hospitality was her hallmark. No matter the hour, Juana welcomed visitors with warmth and a meal, often serving her famous tamales. She delighted in cooking for others but also enjoyed dining out with family and friends. Even during her time in the nursing home, she greeted her children with a smile and the familiar question: “Did you bring me a taco?” She loved westerns and horse movies, but above all, she cherished her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Survivors
• Daughters: Josie Flowers (Troy), Rosa Rosales (Abel), Juanita Gonzales (Nestor), and Raquel Munoz (Juan)
• Sons: Dionicio Garza (Sarah), Jesse Garza (Linda), Robert Alvarado, Oscar Alvarado (Arrica), Moses Alvarado, and Emilio Munoz
• Sisters: Antonia Valdez and Crus Perez
• Numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren
Preceded in Death
Her parents; husband, Roberto Alvarado; sisters, Placida Herrera, Francisca Rodriguez, Maria Arriaga, and Trinidad Guerra; brothers, Manuel Perez, Jesus Perez, Juan Perez, Guadalupe Perez, Alvaro Perez, Leon Perez, and Ramon Perez.
Service
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home with Pastor Graciano Vargas officiating.
Family’s Gratitude
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the compassionate nurses and aides at Paradigm at Steven’s, as well as the caregivers from Crown Hospice, for keeping Juana comfortable. Special appreciation is given to Nestor, Juanita, Adriana, and Joshua Gonzales for lovingly caring for her at home for many years, and to Abel and Rosa Rosales for their devotion until skilled care was needed.
Juana Perez Alvarado – March 26, 1936 to November 28, 2025 (89)
Daniel Hitt – August 16, 1945 to November 24, 2025 (80)
HALLETTSVILLE: Daniel Hitt, 80, passed away Monday, November 24, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was born August 16, 1945, in Houston, TX, to Daniel Peeler Hitt and Eva Louise (Grider) Hitt.
Daniel was an Engineer and prior to retiring, he worked for Hinz Real Estate. He met his wife of 61 years, Lou Garner, when they were thirteen and twelve years old, respectively. To this union, Daniel and Lou welcomed four daughters. Daniel was an Elder of the Sheridan Church of Christ, and in this role, he baptized several people, including his own grandchildren. He was a man of faith and studied the Bible until all hours of the night. He will be terribly missed by those who loved him.
Survivors: wife, Lou Garner; daughters, Deborah Gallaher (Dwayne) of Hallettsville, Barbarah Friedel (Johnny) of Cuero, and Terry Hitt of Arkansas; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Amy Lou Hitt.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
Ronald James Adamek – November 30, 1959 to November 23, 2025 (
YOAKUM: Ronald James Adamek, of Yoakum, Texas, was born on November 30, 1959, to Gilbert and Agnes (Jemelka) Adamek. He passed away on November 23, 2025 surrounded by his loved ones, after courageously battling complications from a double lung transplant he received in mid-September.
Ronnie married the love of his life, Maurine Reynolds, on August 8, 1981. He was a proud 1978 graduate of Yoakum High School and went on to earn his degree from Southwest Texas State University in 1982. He spent 31 dedicated years in the cattle industry before retiring and currently served as a Director of Crossroads Bank, a role he took great pride in for the past 25 years. A man of deep faith and service, Ronnie was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a devoted member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Ronnie was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His greatest joys in life were simple and heartfelt—spending time in his beloved Biergarten, planting pecan trees, tending to his yard and flowers, and watching sunsets with his wife. He loved fishing trips to Rockport with Maurine and friends, and he deeply cherished every moment with his grandchildren, especially teaching them how to fish, hunt, and carry on his secret family recipes.
Ronnie is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Maurine; his three daughters, Jennifer Kifer (Kris), Kristen Schley (the late Travis Schley), and Lauren Adamek (fiancé Justin Cowan); and his twelve treasured grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings: brothers Alan (Cheryl Whitley), Kenneth (Lorrie), and Gilbert (Janet); and sisters Kay Langford and Nanette DeBord (David)
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Agnes Adamek; his little sister, Lynette; and recently, his beloved son-in-law, Travis Schley.
Visitation 4 to 6 p.m. with Rosary recited at 6 p.m., Friday, November 28, 2025 at Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home.
Funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 29, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Yoakum with Most Rev. Gary Janak, D.D. officiating. Burial to follow at St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery at Hochheim.
Pallbearers are Gilbert Adamek Jr., Kenneth Adamek, Alan Adamek, Jason Adamek, Kris Kifer and Mark Kimball.
Honorary pallbearers are Bret Mitchell, Billy Goodrich and the Directors of Crossroads Bank.
Memorials may be given to St. Ann Catholic Church for the landscaping. This was Ronnie’s passion and we will continue to make his vision of beauty continue.
🏈 Bulldogs Set for Round 4 Clash with Columbus
Staff Writer | November 30, 2025
BASTROP — The Yoakum Bulldogs are marching into Round 4 of the Texas high school football playoffs, and the stage is set for a showdown under the lights at Bastrop Memorial Stadium. On Friday, December 5, 2025, at 7:00 P.M., Yoakum will square off against the Columbus Cardinals in a battle that’s already being billed as “Bird Season.” Tickets are $6, with the Bulldogs designated as the visiting team.
Yoakum has built its playoff run on grit and execution, grinding out wins with a balanced offense and a defense that refuses to back down. The Bulldogs have shown resilience in close contests and explosiveness when momentum swings their way — trademarks of a program steeped in tradition.
Columbus, meanwhile, brings its own pedigree and a high‑powered attack, setting the stage for a clash of styles. Fans can expect a physical, fast‑paced game where every possession matters.
For Yoakum, the keys will be discipline at the line of scrimmage and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. The Bulldogs’ ground game has been their bread‑and‑butter, but their ability to stretch the field with timely passes has kept defenses honest.
The community is rallying behind the team, with Bulldog fans expected to pack the stands in Bastrop. The playoff run has energized Yoakum, and Friday night will be another chance to prove that this squad belongs among the state’s elite.
Game Details:
- Matchup: Yoakum Bulldogs vs. Columbus Cardinals
- Round: 4A Playoffs, Round 4
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
- Location: Bastrop Memorial Stadium
- Tickets: $6
- Yoakum: Visitors
The Bulldogs know the stakes: win, and the dream lives on. Lose, and the season ends. With everything on the line, Yoakum is ready to fight for another week of football glory.
🐝 Yorktown Junior High Students Shine in Spelling Bee
Staff Writer | November 30, 2025
Yorktown, TX — Yorktown Junior High recently celebrated the achievements of its brightest spellers during the annual grade-level Spelling Bee. Students from across the junior high competed with focus, determination, and a love of words, making this year’s contest both exciting and inspiring.
Winners from each grade level emerged victorious after several challenging rounds, earning the honor of representing their peers at the upcoming Campus Spelling Bee in January. At that event, the top two competitors will advance to the next round of competition, where they will represent Yorktown ISD on a larger stage.
The Spelling Bee is more than just a contest—it is a tradition that encourages academic excellence, confidence, and perseverance. Teachers, parents, and classmates applauded the students for their hard work and dedication, recognizing that each participant demonstrated courage by stepping up to compete.
Yorktown ISD is proud of these students and looks forward to cheering them on as they continue their journey in the Spelling Bee series. Their success reflects the district’s commitment to fostering strong academic skills and celebrating student achievement.
Wilfred John Konrad – February 17, 1938 to November 24, 2025 (87)
Wilfred John Konrad, 87, of Cuero passed away Monday, November 24, 2025. He was born February 17, 1938, in Westhoff to John Fredrick and Elsie Henrietta Schlenker Konrad. Wilfred graduated from Cuero High School. His earliest jobs included working as a welder, building houses, operating a combine, and he worked for Alamo Iron Works. He moved to Houston in 1958 and worked building hydraulic equipment as well as attending college. He was incredibly proud to be hired by Dow Chemical where he had a very successful career as an Instrument Engineer. Colleagues lovingly nicknamed him Willie. Wilfred worked for Dow for 35 ½ years before retiring.
After retiring, Wilfred went back to his roots and took up farming and ranching on property that had been in his family for several generations. Although he spent a lot of time working the ranch, most days, he made time to have lunch at the Bahnhof in Cuero where he had a close group of friends he enjoyed visiting with.
On June 4, 1961, Wilfred married his next-door-neighbor and love of his life, Barbara Ann Hattenbach. They were married at St. John Lutheran Church in Westhoff. They were married for 64 years at the time of his passing. Wilfred was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church in Westhoff, Living Word Lutheran Church, as well as St. Peters Methodist Church in Katy.
He enjoyed farming, ranching, woodworking and welding. He was well known for the exceptional quality of everything he created. Wilfred also had a passion for travel – traveling extensively with Barbara in their Airstream camper, as well as taking tours. He loved spending time with his family, dancing to country music, and driving his John Deere tractor. He spent many hours working on his ranch, always looking for innovative solutions to improve the land, including testing out an extremely successful grass for A&M. Wilfred enjoyed a very tight knit family where, growing up, everyone got together every Sunday after church for fellowship, amazing food, a mean game of dominoes, and manly discussions about cars and tractors. He continued to treasure opportunities to be with his siblings and their families throughout his life. His motto was “If you are going to work for someone, give it your all” and “If you give it your all, you can accomplish anything”.
Wilfred is survived by his loving wife, Barbara; daughter, Marcia Ann Konrad of Katy; son, Jeffrey Wilfred Konrad (Che’ryl) of Tomball; brother, Carlton Konrad of Katy; grandchildren, Ashley Boggs, Lee Boggs, Tyler Konrad and Brendalyn Konrad; great-grandchildren, Abigail Boggs and Eleanor Boggs.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, his infant daughter Brenda; and his beloved sister, Ernell Hosek.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Freund Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 10:00 AM at St. John Lutheran Church in Westhoff with Pastor Jan R. Putnam officiating. Interment will follow at Westhoff Community Cemetery. A light lunch and fellowship will be held at the St. John Parish Hall following the service.
Pallbearers include Tyler Konrad, Lee Boggs, Steven Haun, Ty Hanks, Simon Konrad and Ryan Haun.
Memorial Contributions may be made to: Cuero FFA Booster Club, 2872 Old Gonzales Rd. Cuero, TX 77954 for the purchase of much needed welding and wood shop equipment. Or, St John Lutheran Church, PO Box 97, Westhoff, TX 77994.
Juanita Marie Peters – November 1, 1923 to November 25, 2025 (102)
Juanita Marie Peters, 102, of Cuero passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2025. She was born November 1, 1923, in DeWitt County to the late Anton Rudolph and Stephania Elizabeth Till Kahlich. Juanita married the late Wilfred Adolph Peters on May 16, 1944, in Westhoff. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, Grand Lodge of the Sons of Hermann and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. She was a well known seamstress in Cuero and the surrounding areas. She served as officer in the American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary. She also served as an officer of the Hermann Sons Lodge for thirty-four years.
Juanita is survived by sons, Dennis Wayne Peters (Sammie), Carrol James Peters (Doris) and David Glenn Peters (Dottie); daughter, Janice Lynn Cowan; seven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred Peters; parents, Anton and Stephania Kahlich; brothers, John R. Kahlich and Norman C. Kahlich; and sisters, Dorothy Pakebusch and Irene Drier.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 5:30 – 7:00 PM at Freund Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, December 4, 2025, 10:00 AM at Freund Funeral Home with Pastor Paul Muehlbrad officiating. Interment will follow at Lindenau Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church – Lindenau or Lindenau Cemetery Association.
Gobblers Storm Corpus Christi, Advance in Playoffs
Staff Writer | November 29, 2028
CORPUS CHRISTI — The Cuero Gobblers left little doubt about their playoff intentions Friday night, overpowering Rockport-Fulton 48–27 at Buccaneer Stadium to advance in the UIL Class 4A Division II bracket.
From the opening kickoff, Cuero’s offense dictated the pace. Quarterback play was sharp, mixing precision passes with a relentless ground attack that kept the Pirates on their heels. Running backs carved through the defense with explosive gains, while receivers turned short throws into momentum-shifting first downs.
The Gobblers’ defense matched the energy, forcing turnovers and shutting down Rockport-Fulton’s attempts to rally in the second half. A key interception midway through the third quarter halted the Pirates’ comeback hopes and set up another Cuero touchdown drive that widened the gap.
By the final whistle, the scoreboard reflected not just a win but a statement: Cuero is built for November football.
The stands at Buccaneer Stadium were awash in green and white, with Gobbler Nation making the trip south to Corpus Christi in force. Their chants and cheers carried through every play, underscoring the bond between team and town.
With the victory, Cuero advances to the regional final, where the competition stiffens and the path to state glory sharpens. Head coach and players emphasized discipline and preparation in postgame remarks, noting that every step forward requires the same intensity that carried them past Rockport-Fulton.
For Cuero, the playoff journey continues — fueled by tradition, talent, and a community that refuses to be outshined.
Cuero (TX) High School Sports – Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, and more
🎄 Christmas in the Park Welcomes Visitors—Golf Cart & UTV Reminder from Cuero PD
Staff Writer | November 2025
Cuero’s beloved Christmas in the Park celebration is lighting up the season nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., drawing families, friends, and festive caravans to enjoy the dazzling displays. Whether you’re strolling beneath the lights or cruising through in a golf cart or UTV, the Cuero Police Department reminds all visitors to ensure their vehicles are properly registered and street legal before entering the park.
🚨 Registration Required for Golf Carts & UTVs
If you plan to visit the park in a golf cart or UTV, your vehicle must display a valid license plate and be registered with the Cuero Police Department. This helps ensure safety and compliance with city ordinances during high-traffic events.
✅ What You’ll Need
To operate a golf cart or UTV on Cuero streets—including access to Christmas in the Park—you must meet the following requirements:
- License plate from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
- Self-certification form completed and submitted to the Cuero Police Department
- Proof of insurance meeting minimum liability standards
- Required safety equipment, including headlamps, mirrors, turn signals, seat belts, and a slow-moving vehicle emblem
- Valid driver’s license for all operators
Permits must be affixed to the center of the slow-moving triangle on the rear of the vehicle.
🚫 Where You Can’t Drive
Golf carts and UTVs are prohibited from operating on:
- State highways
- FM roads
- Esplanade
- Broadway
- Gonzales Street
They must also avoid sidewalks and follow all traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles.
For full details, refer to the City of Cuero Ordinance and Texas Transportation Code. Let’s keep the season merry, bright, and safe for all.
Ludmila “Ludi” Veronica Kutac Cowan – February 24, 1955 to November 22, 2025 (70)
YOAKUM: Ludmila “Ludi” Veronica Kutac Cowan, age 70 passed away Saturday, November 22, 2025. She was born February 24, 1955 in Yoakum to Louis and Anna Marie Honc Kutac.
She was co-owner and manager of Corner Stop for 30 years after she worked at Circle Y. She enjoyed going to Port Aransas, spending time with her grandchildren, going to the casino and being around people at Corner Stop.
Survivors: daughter, Melisa Hairell (Clay); sons, Russell Cowan (Jacque) and Mike Cowan (Kendra); grandchildren, Cameron Henneke (Drayton), Caleb Cowan, Olin Cowan, Silas Cowan, Sadie Carter, Charlotte Hairell, Madeline Hairell and one great-grandchild on the way; step-son, Ricky Cowan (Kirsty); sisters, Sister Paschaline Kutac, Adella Kutac and Ann Margaret Kutac; brother, Anthony “Tony” Kutac (Annell).
Preceded in death by: parents; brothers, Val Kutac, Louis Kutac and Albert Kutac; step-son, Robby Cowan and father of her children, James Cowan.
Visitation 9:00 a.m. with Rosary at 9:30 a.m. followed with a Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home with Rev. Matthew Huehlefeld officiating.
Memorial contributions may be given to American Cancer Society.