Emma Jurena Wick, 91, of Sweet Home, passed away May 12, 2015.  She was born on Feb. 25, 1924, one of ten children to Stephan & Marie Jalufka Jurena in Gephart, Lavaca County, TX,and as a young girl, spent many countless hours working in the fields alongside her parents and siblings.

During WWII, Emma prayed faithfully for the return of the love of her life, Louis F. Wick, from the war.  She married Louis Wick on Oct. 22, 1946 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Koerth. Together they shared over fifty-six happy years together as they raised eight children and worked their farm and ranch.

Always needing to be frugal and resourceful, Emma was a hard-working farm wife and homemaker.  She made butter and cottage cheese from cow's milk and canned numerous fruits and vegetables from her garden.  Just last summer, she put up pickles with the help of Terrence, James, and her caregiver Josephine DeRuiter.  Emma was also known for making a wicked dewberry wine.

Emma especially enjoyed baking and was known for her prune, apricot, and strawberry kolaches as well as her homemade bread and noodles. To the end she insisted on eating homemade bread over store-bought and for the most recent KJZT bake sale, Emma just had to bake up a batch of her kolaches.

Emma took pride in her sewing, quilting, and embroidery.  She made numerous quilts for the local church picnics and made sure that every single one of her grandchildren received a quilt upon graduation from high school. Just recently she enjoyed embroidering pillowcases.

Emma was a member of the Queen of Peace Catholic Church for over fifty years.  There she served on the Altar Society and helped with the church picnics.  Watching EWTN brought her great joy and comfort as she faithfully tuned in to the daily Mass each morning and the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet later in the day.  If you came to visit during those times, you might be expected to watch along with her.

Much beloved by Emma was her dachshund Tiny who was her faithful companion as she worked in her flowerbeds, picked the eggs, and otherwise looked after the farm.  Loyal and protective to the point of fault, Tiny had Emma wrapped around his little paw as he knew just how to get a hotdog wiener from her whenever he wanted.  A big fuss was always made by Tiny whenever Emma had to leave him behind but he would eventually settle down as long as Emma told him she was just going to church and would soon be back.

Emma was an active member of the KJZT, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, the Serra Club, and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

Emma is survived by:  son Lawrence Wick (Linda) of Victoria; 3 daughters, Gerardette Haas (Dennis) of Hallettsville, Mariette Matthews (Lonnie) of Buda, and Katherine Martin (Dan) of Fulshear; son-in-law Johnny Knezek (Sandra); daughter-in-law Sarah Wick; sister-in-law Dolores Scott (Ben); 18 grandchildren; and 19 great grandchildren.

Emma was preceded in death by:  her husband Louis; parents; 3 daughters, Denise Wick, Darlene Wick Knezek, Shirleen Wick Vela; son Terrence Wick; 4 brothers, Steve Jurena, Johnnie Jurena (Martha), Gene Jurena, and Philip Jurena; 5 sisters, Mary Rainosek (John), Agnes Rainosek (Emil), Lydia Havel (Otto), Elizabeth Meinke (George), and Dolphie Meuth (Bernard); son-in-law Lamar Vela; daughter-in-law Charla Bedford Wick; and grandchild Harley Angel Rose Matthews.

Funeral Mass Service: 2 pm, Sunday, May 17, 2015, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church of Sweet Home. Prayer Service: 7 pm, Saturday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Visitation: 5 pm, Saturday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Michael Knezek, Brian Haas, Rodney Haas, Anthony Vela, Kevin Haas,   Christopher Matthews, Matthew Martin, Louis Vela, Jason Matthews, Bradley Haas, James Wick, Michael Buchanek, and Brian Buchanek. Officiant: Rev. Charles Sonnier. Memorials: Diocese of Victoria Seminarian Burse Fund, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church or School, or Hospice of South Texas. Burial: St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Koerth, TX.