MARY ANN KALUZA
Mary Ann Kaluza, 74, of Eagle Lake, Texas, passed away on April 15, 2024, in her hometown of Eagle Lake. She was born on Nov. 7, 1949, to Miles Charles and Mary Victoria (Jochetz) Theuman in Eagle Lake. In 1967, she married Johnnie Kaluza of East Bernard, and they were married for 37 years until his passing in 2005.
Mary Ann was proud of her career as a property and auto insurance agent serving the local community. For several years she worked for Robert Griffith Insurance Agency in Eagle Lake and later became Eagle Lake Branch Manager for Baumgart Agency. After a 50-year career, she retired in 2021 at age 72 to enjoy the extra time with family and friends. Many people in Eagle Lake fondly thought of her as ‘their insurance lady’.
Mary Ann had an inherent love for the City of Eagle Lake where she was very active in the community and passionate about volunteering. She never hesitated to give her time and talents to the many Eagle Lake organizations she belonged to including Downtown Association, Friends of the Library, Garden Guild, Preservation Association, and Revitalize Eagle Lake. She served as Secretary in several of them, and some of her friends often referred to her as ‘the Secretary of Eagle Lake’. Mary Ann was very religious with a strong Catholic faith. She was a member of Parish of the Nativity Catholic Church in Eagle Lake and the Catholic Daughters.
Mary Ann loved to travel with family and friends. Some of her most memorable vacations were to Hawaii, Europe, San Diego, Disney World, New Orleans, a bus tour through the Northeastern United States in the Fall to see the change in season, beach trips to Port Aransas, and her final journey, an Alaskan cruise. Over the years, she traveled to San Antonio and Katy to support her grandsons at their school and sporting events.
Mary Ann enjoyed time with good friends playing Bunco and Canasta. On Super Bowl Sunday she often hosted a party to play Bunco and watch the football game. Mary Ann had a special group of ‘Theater Friends’ who she had a fun time with going to dinner followed by a play.
Mary Ann is survived by her daughter Susan Kaluza Gertson and husband Andy of San Antonio; son John Kaluza and wife Jessica of Katy; sister Theresa Theuman Laughlin and husband Joe of Lake Jackson; grandsons Drew Gertson, Tyler Gertson, John Allen Kaluza, and Michael Kaluza; sisters-in-law Adette Kovar and husband Jim of East Bernard and Mona Hagendorf and husband Barry of San Antonio; and many nieces and nephews.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband Johnnie Kaluza and her parents Miles and Mary Theuman.
Visitation was held on Monday, April 22, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, Texas. A Catholic Daughter Rosary followed at 7 p.m.
Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Parish of the Nativity Catholic Church in Eagle Lake with Fr. Robert Guerra officiating. Visitation at church was from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Burial took place at Lakeside Cemetery in Eagle Lake.
Pallbearers were her grandsons Drew Gertson, Tyler Gertson, John Allen Kaluza, and Michael Kaluza; and nephews Chad Kovar, Nate Kovar, Nick Hagendorf, and Clay Hagendorf.
Memorials may be given in her name to the Catholic Daughters of Eagle Lake or Parish of the Nativity Catholic Church, P.O. Box 307, Eagle Lake, TX 77434. The family would also be honored to have masses dedicated in her name at Parish of the Nativity Catholic Church or Holy Cross Catholic Church in East Bernard.
Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome. com.