Patricia Rose Butschek

Patricia Rose Kolacny Butschek passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Austin. She was born on the family farm near Shiner, Texas, to Rosie (Kokas) Kolacny and Frank Kolacny. In Shiner she graduated from St. Ludmilla's Catholic Academy. In Houston she married in 1946 (Matthew Butschek) and spent many years as a homemaker engaged in rearing her three children as the family moved throughout Texas. Sh enjoyed travel and avidly planned many family vacations to historic sites and national parks through the West with the help of National Geographic maps. She was an accomplished and award-winning amateur artist who began her studies in Fort Stockton under noted Texas artist Willie Reed Rowe. After the family moved back to Dallas, she worked for many years as a valued employee in the Invoice Records department of Montgomery Ward.

After retirement, Patricia moved to Hallettsville, Texas, to join her sisters Elenora and Georgia. For more than then years the three sisters enjoyed reconnecting with thier South Texas roots and each other. They played in domino tournaments, helped with family reunions and Hallettsville cultural events and took adventurous road trips to the Louisiana casinos, spending the hours laughing about their childhood memories and adult adventures.

Her survivors include children Trudy Lewis (Tryon), Chris Butschek (Becky), and Eric Butschek and one sister Elenora Butschek of Hallettsville. Grandchildren are Adam, Ross (Danielle), and Daniel Butschek; Eleanor and Annie Lewis. Great-grandchildren and Charlie, Thatcher, and Hattie Butschek (Ross and Danielle).

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, and by siblings Mary Butschek, Jim Kolacny, Jerry Kolacny, Albert Kolacny, and Georgia Meyer. Also by son-in-law Richard Patton and great-grandchild Wake Butschek.

A memorial with the immediate family is planned for a later date.

Poem saved by Patricia for family and friends:

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there; I did not die.

(author unknown)