Emil James Kocian, 83, passed away Wednesday, December 20, 2017. He was born April 13, 1934 in Flatonia to Adolph and Mary Sladecek Kocian. Emil married Lillie Mae Lamprecht on August 18, 1956 in the St. James Catholic Church. Three and half months later Emil was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in Ft. Hood before receiving orders to Germany. Emil was a member of the Knights of Columbus for many years; he was a member of the 4th degree Knights of Columbus and was Grand Knight from 1975 to 1978. He was a volunteer at the Pioneer Village working near the barns and shelling corn by hand as a lesson of history for those watching, however to him it was an example of his daily chores as a youth where he recalled driving a tractor at age 7, picking cotton by hand and raising hogs where he was required to tote 100 pound bags of feed. He frequently worked the Knights of Columbus beer garden during “Come and Take It”. He had been actively involved with Sons of Hermann and Catholic Life Insurance. After Emil graduated from Flatonia High School in 1951, he went on to work at Millwhite in Flatonia. He was sent to work in Houston at the Millwhite main plant that led him to satellite offices in Georgia, Arkansas and Weeks Island, Louisiana where he was involved in plant construction and mill operations. In 1962 with his wife Lillie wanting to come home to Gonzales, Emil accepted a job at Southern Clay Products working for Henry Christian and his sons. Emil faithfully worked for Southern Clay Products for 34 and half years, hardly ever missing a day of work. Emil delighted in taking care of his grandson Cole and happily taking his granddaughters Hannah and Kali to school in Shiner whenever he was called upon. Emil was a loving dad and adoring grandfather who enjoyed time spent with his grandchildren. He was a quiet and gentle man who clearly listened more than he talked. He enjoyed working in his garden, tending to his cattle and doing all sorts of carpentry work. His favorite pastimes were making birdhouses, attending church picnics, playing 42 and 88 and visiting friends at the Senior Citizen Center in Shiner. Emil is survived by his loving family, wife Lillie Kocian of Gonzales, daughters, Carolyn Elizabeth Kocian of Gonzales, Denise Marie Immehauser and her husband Roger of Hochheim, son, James Edward Kocian and his wife Laurie, sister, Agnes Barta and her husband Leonard of Flatonia, brother, Franklin Kocian and his wife Rose of Wharton, grandchildren, Dr. Hannah Alyse Kocian, Kali Lauren Kocian and Cole William Immenhauser, sisters-in-law, Esther Tichavsky, Bernice Heldersen, and Jeanie Noack. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Anita Rebecek, brothers-in-law, Joe Rebecek, Frank Tichavsky, Bob Heldersen and Bill Noack. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday, December 22, 2017 at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 23, 2017 in St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Paul Raaz as celebrant. Interment will follow in Denton Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers: Kenny Noack, Eric Kocian, Tim Masek, Roger Tomas, David Matl, Ernest Joe Rebecek, Chuck Pavliska, and Cole Immenhauser. Honorary pallbearers: Dr. Hannah Kocian and Kali Kocian. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday before the rosary. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus Council 5090 Scholarship Fund, the St. James Altar Society Memorial Fund, Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court No. 2140 or Accolade Hospice PO Box 525, Yoakum, Texas 77995. Friends may sign the guest book by visiting seydlerhillfuneralhome.com. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.

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