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Robert Joseph Pelzel, 83, of Collinsville, TX passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Wesley House Assisted Living in Gainesville, TX surrounded by his loving family and friends. Robert, better known as Bobby, was born July 3, 1938, in Tioga, TX to John and Annie (Blumberg) Pelzel. He was one of ten children and was raised on a family farm in Pilot Point. He attended St. Thomas Catholic School and graduated from Gee High School in 1956. Bobby married the love of his life, Sondra Gail Green, on May 5, 1962 in Pilot Point, TX. At the time of her passing, they had been married 58 years. During their happy marriage they raised three children, Russell James Pelzel, Kelea Ann Pelzel, and Janet Renee (Pelzel) Adams. He was a member of the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Pilot Point for most of his life. He was a devout Catholic. He served his church in many capacities over his lifetime, including altar boy, usher, Eucharistic minister, Director of the CCD Program, member of the cemetery board, member of the board of the Parish Hall, often organized the Fall Festival and many bingo nights, and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, where he served as Grand Knight and other elected positions. In his later years, he attended St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Sherman. He was a greeter and usher. Bobby lived his faith and gave of his time and energy to his church and the Lord. A jack-of-all-trades, Bobby spent over 30 years working on airplane engines for Southwest Airmotive (Aviall) before “retiring”. A man who could not be idle, after his retirement he built cabinets for L&M Cabinets in Pilot Point. He worked several years for them and upon “retiring” went to work for Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD as a “honey doer” for the teachers. He once again “retired” from the school district after several years. He couldn’t be still, so he drove cars for the Holiday Ford and the Chevy House in Whitesboro, TX. He did this until his wife’s health declined, and even then, he never fully retired, making his wife’s health his greatest priority. Bobby put his own health and wellbeing aside and moved to the nursing home to be by her side. He showed everyone what true love and commitment truly meant. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed his true passion of farming. He enjoyed tinkering in his barn, being on a tractor, working cattle, and gardening. He helped raise all the animals his children came home with. He never met a stranger and would offer people the shirt off his back. Bobby put his wife, Sondra, through college. Jointly, they were then able to put all three children through pharmacy school. He rarely missed an opportunity to tell others about his three pharmacist children. He was occasionally disappointed that after paying so much for college that his kids could not cure his every ailment (we did our best, but he was a train wreck). His granddaughter explained him best, using a phrase she had heard him say many times, “They just don’t make them like they used to.” This phrase fits this husband, father, brother, son, uncle, granddad (Paw, PaPaw), and great grandad the best. He believed in earning and providing for his family. He worked from dawn to dusk to ensure his family was attended to. Bobby never left anything broken or in need of repair because he believed in fixing everything. The only time he ever missed church is when he was in the hospital, but even then, he would watch Mass on the television. He prayed every day, and he loved unconditionally. He loved his wife, kids, and grandkids and would do anything for them. He never procrastinated, and he never left anything for another day. They just don’t make them like they used to. Bobby is survived by his son, Russell Pelzel and wife Renee of Collinsville; daughter, Kelea Pelzel of Collinsville; daughter, Janet Adams and husband Ryan of Choctaw, OK; grandchildren, Jarrett, Taylor, and Connor Pelzel, Morghan, Nicole, and Erin Tischler, Avril and Asher Adams; great-granddaughter, Haven Grace Pyle; sisters, Evelyn Walterscheid, Marilyn Weber, and Jenny Dennis; and brother, Harold Pelzel, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Annie; his wife, Sondra; brothers, Eugene, Ronnie, Johnny, and baby William; and his sister, Margaret Ann Marcus. Rosary will be held 6:30PM on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Pilot Point followed by visitation until 8:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:00PM, Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery in Pilot Point. Pallbearers are Glen Pelzel, Duane Pelzel, Glen Marcus, Matt Pelzel, Jeffrey Weber, and Marcus Dennis. Honorary pallbearers are Richard Blumberg, Jim Schindler, and Jerry Pelzel. On-line condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bobby’s memory to St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 400 St. Thomas Aquinas Avenue, Pilot Point, TX 76258. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Robert Joseph Pelzel

July 3, 1938 - April 9, 2022