Richard W. Jablonowski, 79, of Riesel, passed away Sunday, December 7, 2014. Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Thursday, December 11, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home, 3124 Robinson Drive, Waco. Burial will follow at Riesel Cemetery. The family will receive visitors 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, December 10, at the funeral home.
Richard was born on March 7, 1935 in Waco, Texas, to Rodolph Wood Jablonowski and Lillian Olive Spross Jablonowski. He graduated from Corsicana High School and attended Navarro College in Corsicana and Texas State University in San Marcos during which time he worked at ranching and rodeoing....riding bareback horses and bulls.
Richard was a United States veteran, having served in the Army National Guard and also 4 years in the U.S. Navy He married Sheri Brown Jablonowski on July 31, 1974 and spent 8 years as foreman of Cresslen Ranch in Trinidad, Texas and many years raising and racing Greyhounds, with kennels in Harlingen, Corpus Christi and Houston. He was employed by the United States Postal Service as a Rural Carrier from 1999 until the time of his death. One of Richard's true passions in life was coaching Little League Baseball for his boys and being a faithful presence at all of their sporting events as well as those of his grandchildren. He was their biggest fan.
He was a member of Heart of Texas Cowboy Church in Waco.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, brother Henry Jablonowski, grandson Alex and granddaughter, Raleigh.
Richard is survived by his wife, Sheri, of Riesel, sons, Rick Jablonowski, of Valley Mills, Mike and wife Aimee Jablonowski, David Andrew Jablonowski and Cody Wayne Jablonowski, all of Riesel, and daughter, Judy and husband Thomas Lowe of Crawford and sister Mary Ann Chandler. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jonas, Hannah, Randy, Russell, Triston, Kameron, Ashlea, Caleb, Tyler, Tucker, Taybree and 2 great grandchildren and a multitude of friends.
Pallbearers will be Terry Buck, Corey George, Willie Holloway, Cody Jablonowski, Randy Jablonowski, Tommy Kalka II and Adam Padilla.
Honorary pallbearers are Rick, Mike and Jonas Jablonowski.
"This is where the cowboy rides away......"