William (Bill) Henry Bludau, 85, of Hallettsville, passed away February 27, 2018. He was born on May 8, 1932, the youngest of 10 kids, to Joseph B. & Bernadina Grahmann Bludau in Hallettsville. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1950.  He lettered in football, basketball, softball, and track.  He also participated in 4H.  He caught a calf at the Houston Livestock Show Calf Scramble in 1949 & 1950.

Bill met Margaret Janak, who he affectionately called Margie, at a dance at the old "Recreation Hall". They spent a lot of time dancing to Joe Patek and brother in law Hubert Janak's music.  Bill and Margie married January 31, 1956 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Sweet Home, Texas.  They shared 62 years together.  They were blessed with 6 kids and 10 grandchildren and 6 great in laws, and many wonderful times.  They became one; in that it was always Bill & Margie, Margie & Bill where ever they went.  Margie was his lifelong companion and his own personal nurse.  She was always at his side.

Bill was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, KC, NRA, and Sheriff Association of Texas. Dad worked as a rough neck until the nurse in Mom made him quit, as Cotton Broker for Otto Goedecke Cotton Company traveling throughout the South, for Entex Gas Company, a job he got from the gentlemen that sponsored his Houston Livestock Show Calf Scramble Heifer in 1950, Hal-Tex, Hoffers Trucking, Billy Bludau Welding, and Farmer/Rancher on the side and worked always to provide for us kids.

Bill loved to listen to "Old Country Music"; he even had a record player that could play his old 78 records. Mom and Dad would always listen to music every evening as they replayed their life together and talked about the future.

Bill loved Christmas. He designed and built a "Christmas Star" that was 3D, it looked the same from every angle.  He always made sure his Star and Christmas Tree were up right after Thanksgiving.  Anyone that drove 77 North during Christmas Time was sure to have seen his work.  His favorite songs were "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night".  He always made us say an extra prayer for all the service men and women who could not be home for Christmas.

Bill loved his dogs, his cattle, playing dominoes, visiting with old friends, and making new friends. He always made a new friend at the Shell Stop where he enjoyed a cup of coffee and Lotto Ticket.  He made new friends in Louisiana where Mom and he would visit every so often.  He also made new friends with doctors, nurses, medical techs, and EMTs throughout the years, many of them left impressed with his ability to keep pushing on after he had been through so much.  Dad loved to read.  He would read the Victoria Advocate from front to back and the Dennis the Menace cartoons.

Bill was fond of MD Anderson in Houston. They helped him beat three types of cancer starting with bladder cancer at the age of 48.  He would always encourage folks to go to MD Anderson for treatment.

Bill was a patient man with a listening ear. He would give sound advice that we needed to hear.  Some of his patented sayings were "Anger blows out the lamp of intelligence", "Plan your work, work your plan", and "All I need is a few kind words".  His grandkids all loved and respected him.  They enjoyed playing dominoes, checkers, or just talking about life with him.

Bill was a small town simple man. He bowed his head to Jesus and always said an extra Hail Mary; He stood for Uncle Sam, the Flag, and any American Soldier; He only loved one woman, Mom/Margie; He was always proud of what he had.  He said his greatest contribution is the ones you leave behind.

Bill is survived by: his wife Margaret; 2 daughters, Jean Schaefer & husband Roy, and Marian Elliott & husband David; 4 sons, Billy Bludau & wife Jackie, Tom Bludau & wife Gayle, Donnie Bludau & wife Mary Jo, and Ronnie Bludau & wife JoAnn; sister Rosemary Etzler & husband Arthur Sr.; 10 grandchildren, Alex Bludau, Meghan Elliott, Reed Elliott, Sarah Bludau, Hannah Bludau, Luke Bludau, Joshua Bludau, Abigail Bludau, Laney Bludau and Lacey Bludau.

Bill was preceded in death by: his parents; 5 brothers, Joseph, Hubert, Alphonse, Carl and Aloysius Bludau; and 3 sisters, Hildegarde Borah, Martha Kocian and Helen Bonorden.

Funeral Mass Service: 10 am, Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 4 pm, Friday at Kubena Funeral Home; with Rosary starting at 7 pm. Pallbearers: Alex Bludau, Joshua Bludau, Luke Bludau, Reed Elliott, Ronnie Hornischer, and Everett Bludau. Officiant: Msgr. John Peters. Memorials: Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville, MD Anderson Hospital of Houston, the American Heart Association, or the donors wishes. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.