Wenke Family Celebrates Matriarch’s 101th Birthday

Pioneer family part of La Feria’s Legacy

The celebration of Roumania Marian Wenke’s 101 years parallels the 100 years of the existence of La Feria. Many already know this stalwart lady’s legend because of the mark that she and the Wenke family made and left on our city down to this day. She came from a pioneer, stout German background, and knew how to work and raise a family with the “old fashioned virtues and values” that have almost disappeared from the scene today.

She began her trek on May 14, 1914 in Detroit, Michigan. The Great War, as it was then known, was just beginning.

Sally lived through the “Roaring Twenties”, the Great Depression and its hardships, and then the suffering and anguish of the Second World War. It was during this conflict that her husband, Carl Wenke moved his family first to Hargill, Texas in 1941, next to Monte Alto in 1942, and finally to La Feria in 1944 and bought a house at 413 South Main Street. There, she and her truck driver husband raised a family of seven children, all of whom attended La Feria Elementary, Middle and Senior High Schools.

She recalls that in those years, it was quite a trip to go from Brownsville to Mission on the narrow two-lane highways connecting all the cities in the Valley. There were just the two narrow hard roads–the old Military highway and Highway 83. “My, how times have changed.”

At present count, this family matriarch rightly boasts of a total of 88 descendents: 7 children, 21 Grandchildren, 41 Great-grandchildren and 19 Great, great grandchildren.

Their firstborn, Karl Wenke currently lives in Pasadena, Texas, Georgene Kuykendall is deceased, but lived in Brownwood, Clara Rawls lives in Brownwood, Vivian Greek lives in Harlingen. Geneva Wick lives in San Benito and “Butch” Wenke is retired and lives in San Marcos.

The demands of taking care of the needs of her extended family occupied her life. But, her children said, “when she had time, she loved to read, she enjoyed the outdoors, all kinds of fishing, sewing and crocheting. But, her greatest hobby that gave her a lot of joy was growing roses.”

Long-time La Feria residents will remember the name Wenke because of the outstanding record they made in athletics. “Butch” Wenke said all the Wenke kids were excellent participants in many sports–especially football. “It just came to them naturally,” he said.

The name Wenke was often in the news and sports pages of the LA FERIA NEWS and THE VALLEY MORNING STAR during their school years. “Those years, when I was a player and later coach, were great times. We brought home many athletic trophies including state and division awards in many sports still on display at the high school,” he said as he reminisced about the family legacy.

Butch got his education and worked with the La Feria Independent School District for 29 years before retiring to San Marcos, Ten of those years he served as School Superintendent. He was originally hired in 1974 as coach, teacher and athletic director; later as principal and finally Superintendent. During his tenure he managed to get enough funds from the Texas Education Agency to practically rebuild and upgrade the entire school system.

With those funded monies, the La Feria I.S.D was able to build new schools, a much-needed gymnasium, a million-dollar central cafeteria for the High school and many other needed additions still being enjoyed by students today. “We did all of that with only one local bond issue for the citizens of La Feria during my ten years as Superintendent,” he pointed out.

So, there we have the legacy of the Wenke family, a family that is very much a part of La Feria’s 100-year anniversary and the story of the life that a 101-year-old hard-working, dedicated mother of seven kids, now looks back on and says, “I’m proud of all my children and their accomplishments.”
Readers wanting to know more or contribute to the Roumania Wenke story can call Vivian Wenke Greek at 793-8737.

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