Eugene "Gene" Michael Kosarek

Gene Kosarek of Nixon, Texas passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. He was 92 years old. Gene was born on a Sunday, November 19, 1933 at 9:30 in the morning to his parents, Emil Jerome "EJ" Kosarek and Rosie Elizabeth Kosarek. Gene was the youngest of 3 children.

Gene is survived by his 2 daughters: Kelli Weimer (husband Rodger Weimer) of Seguin, TX and Karen Radicke (husband David Radicke) of Manchaca, TX; son-in-law Bart Hester of Nixon, TX; grandchildren: Lesley Smith (husband Paschal Smith) of Bixby, Oklahoma, Weston Ross Radicke (wife Kiara Radicke) of Austin, TX, Brooke Hester of Nixon, TX and Ashley Pena (husband Alexander Pena) of Seguin, TX; great-grandchildren: Sierra Smith, Savannah Smith and Trey Smith of Bixby, Oklahoma and Aubrey Estelle Pena of Seguin, TX.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents: E.J. and Rosie Kosarek, sister Rose Mary "Babe" Klaus, brother Norman Kosarek, wife Gail Estelle Weber Kosarek, daughter Bennette Jill Hester and son-in-law Brian Perrill.

Gene grew up in Poth, TX where his dad, E.J., also known as "Pop", was a banker for 55 years at Falls City National Bank and he owned and operated Kosarek Dry Goods in Poth, TX, where you could buy a good pair of blue jeans and a cowboy hat! His mother, Rosie, also known as "Granny", was a homemaker and fried up the BEST fried chicken, made cinnamon rice and made kolaches from scratch. We loved to go visit them every chance we got!

Gene attended school in Poth where he excelled in sports especially football. He was a kicker and running back for the Poth Pirates! He also played basketball and ran track. He held the record for the 100-meter dash and the long jump for many years. After graduation from high school, he attended Southwest Texas State University in the fall. He played football and ran track for the SWT Bobcats. And it was there that he met the love of his life, Gail Estelle Weber! Gail and her Delta Delta Delta sorority sisters were having a picnic and enjoying a beautiful sunny day by the banks of the San Marcos River that runs through the campus, when along came Gene jogging by. Her sorority sisters excitedly said "Gail! That's the guy we want you to meet! He drives a baby blue convertible Cadillac and his dad is a banker!" So after many dates, Gene proposed and they were married on December 27, 1958 for 66 amazing years! They started their family 2 years later and had 3 daughters, Kelli, Karen and Bennette. Gene and Gail both graduated from SWT with B.S. degrees in Education. Years later, they both went back to college and obtained their Masters degrees in Education from Texas A&I in Kingsville, TX.

Gene began his teaching and coaching career in Poth, but after a couple of years, he and Gail moved to Nixon, Gail's hometown where her parents Ben F, and Sadie Weber lived. He taught History, coached football, cross country track and golf for the Nixon Bobcats. He also coached the Stockdale Brahmas football team for a few years too. He ended up coaching football for 35 years and was an educator for 50 years until his retirement at the ripe ole age of 80! When asked why so long Coach? He said, "Because I love my job!" He truly did!

Gene and Gail were longtime supporters of the Nixon Livestock Show and were volunteers of the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo from 2006-2018. They enjoyed attending the rodeo performances and after the rodeo, visited the sale barns and booths where they knew so many people. We would always end up at the Frontier Club to have a cold beer, do some two-steppin, and continue to visit with more friends and meet new people as well. Gene also played in the J.B. Patterson Memorial Golf Tournaments every year at Starke Park in Seguin, TX, and was a member of the Cross Country Trailriders of Nixon and the Chisholm Trail Riders.

As a family, we spent a lot of time and made wonderful memories at the Triangle T Ranch, Port Aransas, Lake Breeze Ski Lodge, where we all learned how to ski, Lake Travis and floating the Frio in ConCan. We also attended many sporting events throughout Texas. He loved the Texas Longhorns and Gene and Gail held season tickets to the home games for 12 years. He also loved to grill a steak or throw some links of sausage on the bar-b-que pit out back by the old white barn, which is still standing today, to enjoy telling stories by the campfire with his 4 girls, family and friends.

Although Gene was a great athlete and loved sports, his real passion became coaching young student athletes. He instilled perseverance, discipline, and dedication to his students whether on the playing field or in the classroom and he also taught leadership skills and life lessons. Gene's past students, still to this day, say what an inspirational and positive role model that "Coach Kosarek" was to them.

Gene will be remembered as a generous, thoughtful and loving man you could always count on as a friend and a father.

Gene Kosarek's funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church on 410 North Franklin Avenue, Nixon, TX. Visitation from 1:00-2:00 pm, funeral service at 2:00 pm, with burial to follow at the Nixon Cemetery. Please join the family at the Richardson Christian Center for refreshments and fellowship following the burial.

The family of Gene Kosarek asks that you wear blue to his funeral service to honor his life and legacy.

ZIVIJO !!