William A. Wilke, age 81, of Kingsbury, Texas, passed away on June 23, 2025. William was born on September 19, 1943, to Elizabeth and Paul Wilke Sr. He came from a humble beginning, spending his younger years picking cotton and raising cattle on the family farm. William was a provider and hard-working man who made an honest living. He started working at a very young age, installing terrazzo floors in hospitals, universities, malls, and various other locations across the state of Texas. Later, he went into business for himself, starting the William Wilke Construction Company with his pride and joy Caterpillar D6 bulldozer, which he used to clear land and dig stock tanks. He spent much of his career working as a subcontractor, performing site work, paving roads, creating building pads, and constructing underground utilities for over 50 years. In 1985, while running a construction company, working on the ranch, and raising a family, he founded Seguin Rental Inc. He began renting heavy equipment, machinery, and tools to contractors and homeowners from the surrounding area. It remains family-owned and operated 40 years later. In the latter years of his career, William decided to try his hand at land development, building Castlewood Estates East on Highway 90A to accommodate some of the growing population of Guadalupe County.

Outside of work, William was a founding member of the Kingsbury Volunteer Fire Department. He was involved with the department for over 60 years and enjoyed barbecuing for the annual benefit and served in many roles including President. He was also a member of the Kingsbury Cemetery Board.

In 1961, he met the love of his life, Carol Dee DeLany, after a dance at Boenig's Dance Hall. They were soon married and spent the next 62 years together on the ranch with their family, where they liked to spend time barbecuing and having fish fries at the camp house. William spent the rest of his time making improvements to the ranch, transforming it into the beautiful land it is today. He raised thousands of cattle over his lifetime and loved riding his ranger to check on the herd daily.

He is preceded in death by his son, Bryan Wayne Wilke; son-in-law, Andrew John Dalton; his parents, Elizabeth and Paul Wilke Sr.; brothers, Paul Wilke Jr., Herman "Bub" Wilke, Raymond Wahl, Lawrence Wahl; sisters, Paula Grimm, Katherine Lewis; and nephew, T. J. Wilke.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Dee DeLany Wilke; children, John Wilke and wife Casi, Jennifer Wilke Dalton and Rick Hughes, Jay Wilke and wife Jan, Justin Wilke and wife Cristy; grandchildren, Laurel and Andrew Morell, Megan, Randall, Paige, Kyla, Colby, Rylie, and Rebeka Wilke, Delany, Taylor, and Alexis Dalton, Opal Hughes; and numerous other loving family members.

Graveside services and interment will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Kingsbury Cemetery with the Reverend Jim Price officiating. A celebration of life will follow at the camp house on Wilke Ranch, 7100 Wilke Road, Kingsbury, Texas, 78638.

Honorary pallbearers will be Rick Hughes, Randall Wilke, Colby Wilke, Andrew Morell, Clay Hollub, Donald Mueller, Richard Billings, and Eugene Collins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kingsbury Volunteer Fire Department, P. O. Box 155, Kingsbury, Texas, 78638.