William Edward "Bill" Holzapfel, Sr., 85, of Blessing, passed away August 29, 2016. He was born on March 30, 1931 in Cuero, TX to the late August and Valerie Duerr Holzapfel.

Bill was a dairy farmer in his early years, then spent many years as an operator at Texas Eastern. Bill was an avid fisherman and enjoyed going to the Guadalupe River. He also enjoyed playing dominoes with his friends and watching television.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Alton, Harold and Gene Holzapfel, and son-in-law William "Bill" Head. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dolores Schmidt Holzapfel; daughters Cindy Frazier, Susan Duke and husband Elmo "Bubba" III, Christy Alley and husband Steve and Carol Ledwig and husband Jay; sons Bill Holzapfel, Jr. and wife Penny and Michael Holzapfel and wife Sunni' grandchildren Ryan Holzapfel, Brooke Holzapfel, Dawn Frazier, Amy Tisdale (Johnny), Josh Frazier (Jamie), Mandy Moreno (Michael), Laura Chanek (Jason), Cody Duke, Drew Alley (Christina), Reid Alley, Luke Ledwig, Meaghan Ledwig, Logan Holzapfel and Brandon Dall-Orso; 10 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends and relatives on Wednesday August 31, from 6:00-8:00pm, at the funeral home. The Rosary will be recited at 10:00am Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City. Graveside services will be at 3:00pm Thursday at Hillside Cemetery in Cuero, TX. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Houston Hospice/El Campo.