Eleanor Agnes Malec Rothbauer

Eleanor Agnes Malec Rothbauer, 102, of Hallettsville passed away peacefully on Friday, April 26, 2024 with her family at her bedside, after being given her Last Rites. 
She was born on May 16, 1921 in Flint, Michigan to Walter and Anna Smisek Malec. Her family moved to Hallettsville in 1931 and established the Lavaca County Tribune and several other newspapers throughout the years.
She attended Sacred Heart School until the 8th grade and then transferred to Hallettsville High School graduating in 1938. 
On Jan. 6, 1942 Eleanor was united in marriage to Lawrence Joseph Rothbauer. They were married for 64 years.
Eleanor worked with her family at the Tribune newspaper office for many years. During World War II, when the men went to serve  their country, she worked setting type on the Intertype/Linotype machine. On this machine, she typed many columns for the newspaper. 
She is survived by her children, Margaret (Albert) Pozzi; Lawrence Jr. (Shirley) Rothbauer; Richard  (Judith) Rothbauer, and Barbara (Marvin)  Koehne; grandchildren, Jonathan (Shelley) Pozzi, Trisca and Laura Rothbauer, Kevin (Devra) Rothbauer, Mark (Jennifer) Rothbauer, Dr. Jaclyn Koehne (Scot) Smith; great-grandchildren, Michael and Jacob Pozzi, Chancy, Myles and Macy Brooks, Dawson and Brenna Smith, and a sister, Leona Biehunko.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Lawrence J. Rothbauer; her sisters, Margaret Malec Dibala and baby Dibala; Anna Malec and Lillian Malec Pearson; her brothers, Vladimir, Richard and Joseph Malec; grandson, Clayton Lee Koehne; brothers-in-law, Lawrence T. Biehunko and William D. Pearson; sister-in-law, Pearl Malec. 
Eleanor was a member of Sacred Heart Church and KJZT Society No. 2.
She loved to go to all the church picnics with her husband and enjoy the day with friends and to dance. 
She loved to bowl with  her teammates on  the Hruzek’s Pharmacy team. She was affectionately  known as “Ellie” by her teammates. They were the WIBC City Champions-Handicap in 1968 and 1969.
She also played softball as a short stop in her younger years. She also bowled with the Hlavac Insurance Agency Team. 
She coached the Sacred Heart School Indianettes basketball team to a district championship in 1966. She was very athletic and elegant too. She loved to swim with her children and taught them to swim at the City Park swimming pool. She loved music as she would whistle to the music on the radio in the kitchen while she cooked. She was a very happy lady and enjoyed life. She sang in the Sacred Heart Church choir along with her dad, Walter; sister, Anna, and brother, Richard Malec. She would always dress up wearing her hose and high heel shoes even when she went shopping. 
It was her positive attitude that kept her going through life. She was kind-hearted and a good listener.  She was always there for you with good advice. 
After she unable to live by herself, she moved to the Williamsburg House. The staff was always very caring and considerate. She enjoyed her stay there. Later she moved to Schulenburg Regency Nursing Center and resided there for 14 years. She enjoyed playing dominoes, bingo and even the Wii Bowling game. She was good at the games she played. She would sit in the lobby and visit with the residents while eating her Hershey’s chocolate candy bars. The staff said that she never complained and was so easy going. Her nurses and staff were the best. They all called her “Ellie”.
Her family thanks the nurses at Schulenburg Regency for their excellent care of her.  Also thanks to Jerome Nathaniel, Regency’s van driver, for taking her to and from her birthday parties and to the doctors’ visits. Special thanks to Dr. Maurice Wilkinson for being her doctor and pulling her through three COVID infections. Dr. Wilkinson described her as a “Jewel.” Also special thanks to the Lavaca Medical Center nurses and doctors during her hospital stays. 
Sincere thanks to Hospice of South Texas for their kindness to her during her most difficult times. Eleanor was a devoted wife and caregiver for her husband, adoring sister, aunt, neighbor and friend with a loving, kind and generous heart. Eleanor was indeed a pleasure to be around and will truly be missed. 
Eleanor has reached the end of her journey. She will always walk with us and be in our hearts. She will live inside our laughter. God made a wonderful person and gave her to us. 
Visitation began at 1 p.m., Rosary was recited at 1:30 p.m. and Funeral Mass was celebrated at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 30 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville.  Msgr. John Peters officiated. 
Burial followed at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.  
Pallbearers were Kevin Rothbauer, Mark Rothbauer, Jonathan Pozzi, Scot Smith, Laura Rothbauer and Myles Brooks.  
Memorials may be made to  Sacred Heart Catholic Church or to a charity of donor’s choice.