For the Week of January 29 - February 4, 2023

Funeral services for Bernard Penner, age 31 of Seminole, Texas will be held Monday, January 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Community Church with Pastor Dave Klassen officiating. Burial will follow at Gaines County Cemetery. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home.

Mr. Penner was born June 23, 1991 in Seminole to Aganetha (Dyck) and Bernard Penner. He married Gertruda Fehr in Seminole on August 10, 2019. He was a member of Community Church and enjoyed fishing, eating his sister-in-law’s food, and being around his family. He loved his wife dearly.

Bernard Penner passed away at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas on January 27, 2023. He is preceded in death by his mother, Nancy Penner in 2021. He is survived by his wife, Trudy Penner of Seminole; and his dad, Bernard Penner of Seminole.

Funeral services for Jacobo Neufeld, age 28 of Seminole, Texas will be held Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Reinlander Mennonite Church with Bishop Jacob Rempel officiating. Burial will follow at Reinlander Mennonite Cemetery. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home.

Mr. Neufeld was born in Mexico on November 30, 1994 to Katherina (Harms) and Jacob Neufeld. He married Maria Dyck in Mexico on July 13, 2014. He was a member of Reinlander Mennonite Church and was a self-employed building contractor, where he loved his job and helping others. Jacob enjoyed going on vacations, especially with his daughters, and having fun with them. No matter how hard he worked or how tired he was, he always enjoyed spending time with his girls at the end of the day. Jacob was finally able to buy his dream truck, and was so very proud to have it. He always invited numerous friends and family to his home every Sunday.

Jacobo Neufeld passed away Sunday, January 29, 2023 near his home in Seminole, Texas. He is preceded in death by one child. He is survived by his wife, Maria of Seminole; three daughters, Amanda, Judy, and Rachael Neufeld, all of Seminole; two brothers, David Neufeld and wife Margarita, and Abe Neufeld and wife Eva, both of Mexico; four sisters, Katherina Froese and husband John, Maria Neufeld, Margarita Krahn and husband Abram, and Elisabeth Fehr and husband Peter, all of Mexico; and his parents, Jacob and Katherina Neufeld of Mexico.  

A memorial service to honor the life of Cody Allan Parker, age 36 and formerly of Seminole, Texas, will be celebrated Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Gaines County Park Community Building in Seminole, with Pastor Allan Speed officiating. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home. The family requests in lieu of flowers to please donate to any children’s charity of your choice in Cody’s name.

Cody was born May 27, 1986 in Bowie, Texas to Suzan and Robert Parker. He attended Seminole schools all 13 years, graduating in 2004. Cody was active in all sports but found his real passion in singing and performing. He performed for many community events starting in junior high school, singing the national anthem for school activities and sporting events. 

Once in high school Cody became more focused on music under the guidance of his mentor, Eric Hindman. He set high goals and achieved those goals, advancing to state competition every year in high school while performing with Jazz Brigade and Acapella Choir. His senior year he was invited to New York City to perform in the National Choir at Carnegie Hall. Before college Cody worked as a camp counselor and remained in contact with friends and their families made during those years. He attended Louisiana Tech where he studied vocal performance, performing in many musicals during his time there. Cody also performed at the Opera House in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Cody worked as a welder and a cook. He loved being able to prepare meals that “appealed to the eye as well as the belly.” He also loved being in the water with the kids. Fishing with family or teaching Jackson to fish was a beloved pastime. He was always ready to jump in and lend a hand to anyone whether he knew them or not; he never met a stranger.

Cody Allan Parker left this world to sing in the Lord’s choir on December 25, 2022. Those surviving to cherish his memory are his wife, Summer of Nocona, Texas; two children, Cameron and Jackson of Gilmer; his parents, Suzan and Robert Parker of Gilmer, Texas; one brother, Michael Wetzel Parker of Phoenix, Arizona; one sister, Tiffany Parker of Seminole, Texas; grandparents, Rosemary Cessnun of Jal, New Mexico and Billy Don Kelley of Pittsburg, Texas; and a host of beloved friends.

Graveside services for Joycie Williams, age 81 of Cuero, Texas and formerly of Seminole, Texas, will be held Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at Gaines County Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Tony Pitcox officiating. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home of Seminole.

Mrs. Williams was born February 27, 1941 in Seminole to Rosa (Brooks) and Buster Buck Pitcox. Joycie grew up working on a ranch with her dad and taking care of the cows and other animals. In 1961 she married Eugene Williams in Seminole and enjoyed being a homemaker for several years; she then took on driving a dump truck for several years which she very much enjoyed. Every summer Joycie would take her children, nieces, and nephews to hoe cotton to teach them about cotton. In Joycie’s last few years, she moved from Seminole to Cuero with her daughter where she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Joycie Williams passed away at her daughter’s home in Cuero on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Williams; three brothers, and two sisters. She is survived by three daughters, Diann Hernandez and husband Junior of Marble Falls, Texas, Connie Williams Henry of Temple, Texas, and Pamela Williams of Cuero, Texas; five grandchildren, Asa and wife Crystal Salinas of Odessa, Texas, Veronica Zamora and husband Johnny of San Antonio, Texas, Lance Ramirez and wife Idyle of Florida, Rosa Williams of Cuero, Texas, and Joycie Mae Martinez of Cuero, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Funeral Mass for Julio Gomez Villalva, age 93 of Seminole, Texas, will be celebrated Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church with Father Jose De Dios Gonzalez officiating. Burial will follow at Gaines County Cemetery. Rosary will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at St. James Catholic Church from 7 to 8 p.m. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home.

Mr. Villalva was born February 24, 1929 in Alpine, Texas to Ladislada (Gomez) and Francisco Villalva. He married Ramona Cantu in Seminole, Texas on July 13, 1963. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He worked as a custodian and was always very creative and energetic; he lived his life to the fullest. Julio had a very active mind even when his body wasn’t. He loved his family dearly.

Julio Villalva passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Shinnery Oaks Nursing Home in Denver City, Texas. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Ramona Villalva in 2021; five brothers, and one sister. He is survived by four daughters, Dorothy Lopez and husband Domingo of Odessa, Texas, Juanita Guzman and husband Lupe of Seminole, Texas, Mary Hernandez of Taylor, Texas, and Leticia Perez of Seminole, Texas; one brother, Luis Villalva and wife Carol of Edison, New Jersey; one sister, Gabriella Rodriguez of Roswell, New Mexico; 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Johan “Johnny Mack” Neufeld, age 59 of Seminole, Texas, will be held Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Community Church with Pastor Dave Klassen officiating. Burial will follow at Gaines County Cemetery. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home. 

Johnny Mack Neufeld was born April 25, 1963 in Chihuahua, Mexico to Aganetha (Dyke) and Peter Neufeld. He married the mother of his children, Elizabeth Neufeld, on February 13, 1983 in Mexico. He had lived in Seminole for 35 years and drove a truck, hauling cotton for a living. Mr. Neufeld later married Cori Crim on August 14, 2021 in Hobbs, New Mexico. He enjoyed tinkering with things, especially wood working, and loved to take his grandchildren for rides on his tractor, but his trucking business was his true passion. Everyone in town knew him as Johnny Mack.

Mr. Neufeld took great pleasure in music and played the guitar and the accordion; he even collected guitars along with rocks. He loved fishing and adored the state of Oregon; he greatly enjoyed going to the beach. He dearly loved his family, especially his grandchildren. 

Johan Dyke Neufeld passed away Thursday, January 12, 2023 at Seminole Memorial Hospital. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by two sons, one brother, two sisters, and father-in-law Harvey Crim. He is survived by his first wife, Elizabeth of Seminole; his second wife, Cori of Washington; two sons, Johnny Neufeld and wife Jenna of Andrews, Texas, and Billy Neufeld of Seminole; one daughter, Trudy Neufeld of Farwell, Texas; five brothers, Peter Neufeld and wife Maria of Seminole, David Neufeld and wife Katharina of Canada, and Jacob Neufeld and wife Susana, Isaak Neufeld and wife Katharina, and Franz Neufeld and wife Susana, all of Mexico; seven sisters, Katharina Wall, and Helena Loewen and husband Jacob, both of Mexico, and Aganetha Fehr and husband Jacob, Maria Enns and husband Cornelius, Getruda Neufeld and husband Abram, Susana Thiessen and husband Peter, and Anna Guenther and husband Aaron, all of Canada; and four grandchildren, Jadyn, Jalyssa, Jude, and Lincoln.

Steven Wayne Boyer, age 76 of Butte, Montana and formerly of Seminole, Texas, passed away December 29, 2022 at his residence in Butte. No services are planned at this time. Steve was born January 15, 1946 in Fillmore, California to Evangeline (Davis) and Warren Boyer. After his parents divorced, he moved back to Texas with his father and lived with his grandparents until his father remarried Lois Renfro in 1953. He recalled living with his “Ma” (Grandma Nellie) as some of his best childhood memories. 

Steve attended Seminole High School but left to join the U.S. Navy in June 1965. He served his country for 23 years including tours in Vietnam, and on aircraft carriers USS Merrick, USS Kittyhawk, USS Jesse L Brown, and USS Leftwich. His naval career took him as far as London and included stations in California, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Virginia. Following his retirement as a Chief Petty Officer, E-7, he earned a B.S. in Architecture from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, and had lived in Butte since the year 2000.

Steve had several hobbies including being a voracious reader, making omelets, walking, drawing, car mechanics, history research, storytelling, and incredible guitar playing. His children and grandchildren have many memories of him playing guitar and singing to them. 

In addition to his parents, Steve is preceded in death by one grandson, Logan Boyer. He is survived by his wife, Christina; by five children, Kareniesa Kohn & husband Cy, Terence Boyer & wife Chara, Tanisha Boyer, Daniel Boyer, and Natasha Boyer; three brothers, Dean Boyer and wife Candy, Gene Boyer and wife Mary, and Ernest Taylor and wife Janet;  15 grandchildren, Jade Ditmanson & husband Travis, Kaleb and Paige Staudohar, Gavin, Elizabeth, Ryan, Anna, Jeffrey, Marjorie Jean, Lilly, Titus, and Iris Boyer, and Storm, Ivan, and Auron Lorenz; and two great-grandchildren, Cassius Ditmanson and Caspian Boyer.

Funeral services for Peter Knelsen age 70 of Seminole, Texas, will be held Monday, January 9, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Reinlander Mennonite Church with Joseph Knelsen officiating. Burial will follow at Reinlander Mennonite Cemetery. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home. 

Peter was born July 26, 1952 in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico, Campo 17 to Peter and Susanna (Penner) Knelsen. Peter married Helena (Neufeld) Neufeld on August 15, 1976 in Mexico. He was baptized in 1972 by Om Heinrich Dyck of Reinland, Mexico and was a lifelong member of the Reinlander Mennonite Church. Early in his life he enjoyed farming and raising cattle. Although he loved all things agriculture, he found his true love selling REDA cable. He loved serving all his customers to the very end! Family and friends will remember him for his work ethic, wit, and voice. Everyone he met loved his cheerful smile and heart. Peter never met a stranger.

Peter Penner Knelsen passed away peacefully from this life at his daughter’s home on January 5, 2023 in Seminole, Texas after a lengthy illness. He was surrounded by family and friends. In addition to his parents' death, he is preceeded in death by one brother, one sister, and one daughter. He is survived by Helena Knapp of Seminole, Peter and Lena Knelsen of Seminole, Frank and Annie Knelsen of Seminole, Nettie Adams of Seminole, Tina Knelsen of Lubbock, Eva and Michael Fisher of Ashville, North Carolina, and Anna Knelsen of Lubbock. He is survived by 11 grandchildren and one adopted grandchild. He is also survived by 3 brothers, Jacob Knelsen and wife Susanna of Canada, Johan Knelsen and wife Elizabeth of Canada, Heinrich Knelsen and wife Margret of Mexico. He is survived by 2 sisters, Anna and husband David Dyck of Canada and Susanna Knelsen of Seminole.