Benjamin Nemec

Benjamin “Benny” Nemec, 70, lost his battle with Huntington's Disease on Thursday, June 18, 2015 with his loving wife, Marilyn, by his side in Weatherford, Texas. Benny was born February 1, 1945 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Fred and Anastazie Nemec. He was the fifth of the eight children, with three sisters and four brothers. His father, a Robstown area farmer, passed away when Benny was just 12 years of age, leaving he and his siblings to help their mother keep the farm going before and after school, as well as during the summers. Benny graduated from Corpus Christi Academy High School in 1963, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville and took an active role in the fraternity system, where he was the final president of the Sigma Rho chapter and the first president of Sigma Chi. It was here that Benny established many long lasting friendships that helped shape both his personal and business futures. He married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Miles, before the start of his senior term on September 3, 1966. Following his graduation from college with a business degree in 1967, Benny and Marilyn returned to where he grew up in order to take over the Nemec farm and start a family of their own. In 1971 Benny decided to join his stepfather, Harry Kennedy, as an insurance agent in Robstown. He retired from the insurance field in January of 2012. Benny's interests included going country dancing Friday and Saturday evenings with his wife, as well as anything that involved being outdoors with family and friends. Weekend barbecues were very common, either at the Nemec house or the homes of their friends – and Benny was always manning the grill. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, as well as any sports or activity in which his two children, Dede and Benjy, were participating. Through the years, he was involved in St. Peter's Catholic Church and St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church with the Knights of Columbus. Later in life, he returned to his roots as a farmer while spending his time with his wife gardening and doing yard work. Then as Huntington's Disease robbed him of this pleasure, he spent most of his waking hours watching farming and gospel programs on RFD television. Benny is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his daughter, Dede Crawford and her husband, Matthew, of Weatherford; his son, Dr. Benjy Nemec and wife, Amie, of Austin; his grandchildren, Wesley Crawford and Allison Crawford; his older brothers, Fred Nemec Jr, of Robstown, and Joe Nemec, of Austin; his older sister, Patricia Nemec, of Houston; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Benny was preceded in death by his stepfather, Harry Kennedy; his older sister, Elizabeth Runte; his younger brothers, Michael Nemec and Dr. Richard Nemec; and his younger sister, Dr. Anna Nemec. A service of remembrance and rosary will be held at 7:00 pm Friday, June 26 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church at 16602 F.M. 624, (Northwest Corpus Christi) with a reception following in the parish hall. Funeral services will also be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church at 10 am Saturday, June 27, with graveside services immediately following at Seaside Memorial Park. A remembrance celebration after interment will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church parish hall. The family strongly requests that donations be made to Huntington's Disease Society of America at HDSA.org in lieu of flowers.