Alice Elizabeth Kainer, 88 years old of Hallettsville, was born to Joseph & Agnes Najvar Gerlich at St. Mary's Community on Feb. 3, 1919. She died Sunday, June 24, 2007. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Richard Kainer; four brothers – Ben, Stanley, Laddie & Dan Gerlich; and one sister Lillian Laas. She is survived by her two sons, Tommy & wife Diane, and Ronnie Kainer of Hallettsville; four grandchildren, Shane, Michael & Ronnie Kainer, and Robin & husband Chuck Koncaba; and a great granddaughter Raegon Koncaba. Also surviving her are three sisters, Leona Buzek of Hallettsville, Mary Mladenka of Matagorda, and Bernice Twardowski of East Bernard; and brother Joseph Gerlich of Hallettsville.

For many years, Alice worked as a cook at Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant until early 1970s, and then went to work at Tex-Tan in Yoakum as a leather tooler. After retiring from work at Tex-Tan, she helped care for her family and did some odd jobs around home. Later she helped as a volunteer at the Lamb Thrift Shop here in town until her health started failing.

Being a great Astros fan, Alice always looked forward to baseball season and watching their games. And boy could she tell you when someone made a bad play and didn't do his job pitching.

At anytime, you could find her ready for a good domino game of "Forty-Two" or "Moon" or a card game of Tarochs with her brother and sister unless maybe there was an Astros game coming on.

Alice also had a great love for the outdoors. She enjoyed working in her flower beds as long as she was able and later she could be found on the porch digging in her pot plants and tending to them, or just being outside on the porch swing.

On special occasions, she would be treated to a fishing trip to the coast by her sisters and brother-in-laws, and usually was the one who caught the most or biggest fish. She always looked forward to these outings or anything with the family, as this was very important to her.

To many of her nieces & nephews, Aunt Alice was the one to bring a batch of her famous kolaches to a family get together. Or, it could be anyone of her other goodies that she loved to cook-up, and she was always asking when someone else was going to learn how to make them.

Alice was always a very strong and independent person, and always had a sense of humor until her last days. She was a devout catholic with great devotion to the Blessed Mother and faith in her Heavenly Father.

Service: 10 am, Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation: Noon, Tuesday at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosaries: 7 pm, Tuesday at Kubena Funeral Home; and 9:15 am, Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Officiate: Rev. John Peters. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers: Joe Paul Gerlich, David Buzek, Russell Laas, Mark Gerlich, Dennis Gerlich, and Chuck Koncaba. Honorary Pallbearers: Paul Beavers, Mike Chovonetz, James Twardowski, Shane Kainer, and Ronnie Joe Kainer. Memorials: Hospice of South Texas, American Cancer Society, or Sacred Heart Church or School.