Coufal

Verna Jean (Rathke) Coufal, age 85, of the Haw Creek community passed away Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at Oak Haven Assisted Living in Industry.

Born at home on Oct. 28, 1940, to Walter and Anita (Boecker) Rathke, Verna Jean was baptized on Dec. 22, 1940, by Pastor T.M. Mansur at Welcome Lutheran Church in the Welcome community, and was confirmed there April 3, 1955, by Pastor Walter Wolf.

She met Alvin Henry Coufal Jr, her husband of 59 years, while playing Luther League volleyball during the summer. They were married on Aug. 1, 1959, at Welcome Lutheran Church by Pastor Wolf.

She attended Welcome School through 8th grade and then Bellville High School, graduating in 1959. Verna graduated from Cox Beauty School, Huntsville, in May 1960, retaining her Cosmetology license for many years afterward.

Verna was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, but she used her seamstress skills to serve many customers who came to her for custom clothing, alterations, and many times a whole bridal party’s attire, with bridesmaid’s dresses and the occasional wedding dress. No matter where they lived with Al’s teaching positions, she found people who appreciated her sewing skills. It was a running family joke to be very careful when you sat down in any chair or the sofa: you never knew if Verna/Mom had been there before and left a sewing needle or stick pin behind.

After her children were in school, she worked outside the home, including Industry Store, Joe Frank Fashions in Bellville, and Nat’s Tiny Tots in Brenham. Later she worked at Brenham State School (Supported Living Center) as a clothing clerk until retirement. She also enjoyed working at Cajun Farm and Warrenton Store during antique weekends. After retirement she continued with her various ‘sewing’ customers and worked at Lindemann Store in Industry.

In the late 1970s she and Al were able to move to his childhood home, the Coufal Family Farm. She enjoyed fixing up the farmhouse and caring for her father-in-law while he lived with them. She had many hobbies including sewing, crafts, baking, word puzzles, bunco, and deer hunting. An active participant in the Fayette County Fair and Austin County Fair Home Economics division, also a member of West End Chapter Texas AgriLife Extension Agency. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Shelby and active with the St. Paul Women of the ELCA.

She is survived by her daughter, Ruth Poncik and husband Richard of Columbus; daughter-in-law, Cynthia Coufal and friend Jerry Rogers of Fayetteville; four grandchildren: Garrett Poncik and wife April of Bleiblerville; Jessica Mitchell and husband Chad of Boerne; Landon Coufal and wife Carina of Fort Worth, and Brooke Coufal of College Station. She is also survived by five great-granddaughters: Abigail, Madelyn, Kadynce, andAddyson Poncik, and Lola Mitchell. Also surviving are her sister Joyce Warmke, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Henry Coufal Jr.; her son, Ray Allen Coufal; her parents, Walter and Anita Rathke; her father and mother-in-law, Alvin and Adele Coufal; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lester Coufal and Erline Coufal; sistersin- law, Isabella Sommerlatte and Madeline Movan and brother-in-law, Eudice (Johnny) Movan, and brother-inlaw, Billie Warmke.

Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Shelby (6814 Skull Creek Rd., Fayetteville). Burial will be at Haw Creek Cemetery, FM 389 near Shelby.

Visitation was held Thursday, Feb. 12 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main, Brenham.

Pallbearers are: Tim Mickan, John R. Sutton, Jr., Gregg Schubert, Scott Schubert, Rodney Schubert, Bradley Warmke, Alan Kuehn, and Duane Dudensing.

Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren and greatgranddaughters.

Special thanks to her friends and staff of Oak Haven Assisted Living for their care and compassion during the last years Verna lived there.

Memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Shelby, 6814 Skull Creek Rd.; Fayetteville TX 78940 or Brazos Valley Hospice 302 E. Blue Bell Rd; Brenham TX 77833 or charity of your choice.

To post a tribute to the family, please visit www.memorialoakschapel. com.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham.