Cleo B. Pakebusch Tomas

Cleo B. Pakebusch Tomas, 88, passed away Thursday, March 23. Cleo was born August 13, 1928 in the Cheapside area of Gonzales County to Rudolph Pakebusch and Elsie Stevens Pakebusch. She married Robert Joseph Tomas on May 1, 1947 in Gonzales. Cleo was a member of St. James Catholic Church and VFW Post 4817 Ladies Auxiliary.

Cleo was one of seven children raised mostly by her widowed mother. She grew up in Cheapside, attended the Cheapside Country School where she either walked the four miles to school or rode the family mule. There were times that ol’ mule tired of packing Cleo and a few of her siblings to school and would just lie down and rest not at all concerned if its passengers were late for class. Cleo learned at a very young age the hardships and blessings of country living. Her mother did her very best to keep the family together and she and her siblings did their part to help shoulder the work around the farm and caring for the needs of a large family. Cleo met a man who would become her husband at a dance in Kokernot Grove. She and Robert moved to the home place on Pilgrim Road. They share-cropped the land growing cotton and corn and later raised chickens independently before raising contract chickens for Holmes Foods. Cleo was a magnificent homemaker, a loving wife and devoted mother of three. She shared her knowledge of living off the farm she acquired as a child with her own children. Processing chickens was done in stages and each of her children had a specific job, the whole family took part. Robert had a large garden so Cleo would pickle and can much of the produce, and the extended family would occasionally come together to butcher a hog or a calf. She enjoyed embroidery and playing dominoes and solitaire. Cleo was a phenomenal cook and made a legendary chicken soup. Her homemade egg noodles were meticulously and lovingly prepared to perfection. She baked homemade bread, made a delicious tapioca pudding, prepared her grandchildren’s all-time favorite spaghetti and meatballs and as far as her children are concerned, nobody made fried chicken and potato salad that was as wonderful as their momma’s. Cleo was clearly the family matriarch; she was strong in her faith and raised her children accordingly. She was a loving and happy woman and found contentment in her home on the farm. Nanny as her grandchildren lovingly called her, never questioned her adoring love, it was always there, just waiting to envelop them upon each visit. Cleo didn’t get her drivers license until she was 67 years old, wonders persist if she never thought it necessary, she really only needed groceries on occasion and church on Sundays, the land on her farm provided everything she needed, homegrown food for nutrition and a closeness to God and his creations that fed her soul.

Cleo is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Linda Tomas Finch and Freddie of Manor, sons and daughters-in-law, Roger Lynn and “T” Tomas of Gonzales, Randall Allen and Shirley Tomas of Gonzales, grandchildren, Tamra Finch DuBose and husband Ken, David Finch, Jennifer Stewart and husband Brady, Julie Tomas and fiancé Emmy Cannan, Todd Ivey and Josh Ivey, great-grandchildren, Dakota, Brandon, Daveyon, Michajah, Paige, Riley, Emma, and Lane, brothers and sisters-in-law, Arlin “Buddy” Pakebusch and Martha of Victoria and Rudy “Sonny” Pakebusch, Jr., and Jane of Kingwood. Cleo was preceded in death by her husband, parents, her darling granddaughter, Amy Tomas, sisters, Leola Sommerlatte, Lorene Kuban, Lauralee Zella and a brother, Rueben Pakebusch.

A rosary was recited at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. A funeral mass was held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 27 in St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Paul Raaz officiating. Interment will follow in St. James Cemetery. Pallbearers: Lee Wayne Karl, Gary Zella, Gene Tomas, Freddie Finch, Daniel Tomas, Ken DuBose, Brady Stewart and Egon Barthels. Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family received friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. In lieu of plants and flowers, friends are invited to make memorial contributions to the VFW Post 4817 Ladies Auxiliary, 528 St. Vincent Str., Gonzales, TX 78629 or the St James Altar Society Memorial Fund, 417 N. College Str., Gonzales, TX 78629. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.