Gilbert Joseph Kubicek

Gilbert Joseph Kubicek, age 76, passed away surrounded by his family at St. David’s Hospital, on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Gilbert was born May 4, 1948, the second child of John and Sophie Kubicek of Taylor, Texas.

He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, in Taylor, where he graduated in 1966. After graduation, he joined the Naval Reserve and served two years on active duty and 19 years in the reserve.

While deployed, he served on board the USS Grasp, a rescue salvage ship, homeported in Guam. While onboard he made three deployments to Vietnam. He retired from the Navy in 1988 as a Legalman Chief Petty Officer.

After returning home, Gilbert married the love of his life, Lois, on February 7, 1970, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Taylor. They purchased a home in Elgin, where they happily lived for the past 54 years. During their life they were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Deborah and Heather.

Gilbert was employed by TxDot Motor Vehicle Division, in Austin, where he retired in 1997 after 31 years of service.

Gilbert was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed the simple tasks of gardening and bird-watching. Most afternoons, you could find him on his back patio, listening to music and watching his birds that he faithfully fed each day.

Gilbert never met a stranger. He always went out of his way to help his neighbors and friends, either by sharing his vegetables he grew or helping to mow his neighbors’ yards. His volunteerism included the Elgin Catholic Church Parish Board, Elgin SPJST, Elgin Little League, Elgin VFW, and the Elgin American Legion.

He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elgin for 54 years where he served as Eucharistic Minister, Usher and Lecture.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Sophie Kubicek and brother Wilbert Kubicek.

Gilbert is survived by his wife Lois, his daughter Deborah, daughter Heather and husband Mike Welch, and his greatest gifts, granddaughters, McKenna, Remley and Hadley, all of Spring, Texas.  Brother Johnny and wife Joyce Kubicek, Monica and husband Doug Rowe, and Loretta and husband David Knapek all of Taylor, Texas; Joyce and Larry Spinn of Holland, Texas;  Sister-in-law Ruth and husband Ervin Becker,  sister-in-law Nancy and husband Larry Axelson of Elgin, Texas, and sister-in-law Kathy and husband Gary Wortham of Pflugerville, Texas, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Serving as pallbearers are nephews Justin Knapek, Keith Knapek, Adam Spinn, Paul Spinn, Johnny Kubicek Jr., Christopher Kubicek, Kevin Rowe, Jason Vrana, and Larry Becker.

A rosary will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 5:30 at Providence-Jones Funeral Home, followed by a visitation from 6pm-8pm. Funeral will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elgin. Gilbert will be laid to rest at Coupland Community Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Gilbert to Saint Juan Diego Dollar per Week Fund c/o Larry Dunne 185 Pleasant Grove Rd. Elgin, TX 78621. This fund was created in 2010, to assist the elderly and ill among the Sacred Heart Parish Family. Gilbert passionately donated to this fund to help others who needed financial assistance, and it was dear to his heart.

A special thank-you to Thresia J. Allen at Well-Med, Dr. Bart Posnik, MD at Texas Oncology in Bastrop and Heart-To-Heart Hospice of Austin.