Mary Lou Kenjura

Mary Lou Kenjura "Gerke", 92, departed this world peacefully surrounded by her family on August 31, 2025. She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience and cherished memories.

Mary Lou was born on July 7, 1933, on the family farm in William Penn, Texas to Willie and Mary Lampe Gerke. She was taught the value of conservation, hard work and integrity. Her German speaking parents instilled in her a deep sense of family.

Growing up, Mary Lou enjoyed good natured fun with her siblings and parents. Mary Lou attended school through the eighth grade at the William Penn School. At this point she went to work in the restaurant business to help her family. This experience of hosting and serving others, would eventually become claim to fame and creating a place of welcome for the Brenham community. While working in Brenham, with her warm personality and good looks, she was nominated and selected as the "Belle of Brenham."

In 1949, she agreed to go on a blind date. Her friends introduced her to Paul Kenjura. This date resulted in an almost 74 -year marriage. Mary Lou and Paul were married on September 8, 1951 at Camp Roberts, California, just before he was shipped overseas to Korea.

In 1965, in joint effort with her mother Mary, Mary Lou and Paul opened the K & G steakhouse where they served the community of Brenham with love and home cooked meals. When Mary retired, Mary Lou and Paul ventured West and opened another steakhouse in Seguin, Texas. After 33 years of serving Brenham and Seguin, they sold the restaurants and retired to farm life.

This was when her most important job started, teaching her grandchildren her passion to cook! Together, they would learn some of their favorite dishes from Mary Lou and had to really pay attention because nothing was written down. For Mary Lou, ingredients included a pinch of this or handful of that. Her grandchildren brought her great joy and pride.

Mary Lou is survived by her loving husband, Paul Kenjura, daughter Linda Kenjura, son Rodney Kenjura and wife Patty, and bonus daughter Marilyn Kleypas and husband Paul. Her grandchildren, Rodney (Buddy) Kenjura Jr., Corey Kenjura, Darreck Kenjura and wife Ashley, Chris Blue, Sheila Rieck and husband Jesse, and Josh Wesolick. Her great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Pierce, and Presley Rieck, Charlie, Braxton, and Emmerson Kenjura. Brother, Clarence Gerke and wife Jill, sister-in-law, Annie Gerke, and sister Janet Long and husband David, and host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Darrell Mark Kenjura, her parents, Willie Gerke and Mary Gerke-Pahmiyer, and stepfather August Pahmiyer. Her Parents-in-laws, Steve and Mary Kenjura. Sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Charlie Moon, brother, Floyd Gerke, two sisters who died at birth, and sister-in-law, Janet Gerke.

Pallbearers are her grandsons, Buddy, Corey, Darreck, Chris Blue, Josh Wesolick, Jesse Rieck and Eddie Robinson (a close family friend).

The family expresses heartfelt thanks to Acara Hospice for their excellent and gentle care and unending patience.

Please honor Mary Lou as you are most comfortable with. If undecided, please consider donating to Meyersville Volunteer Fire Department.

There will be a visitation at Memorial Oaks Chapel on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 7 AM to 7 PM, family will be present between 5-7 PM. A service to remember and celebrate her life will follow at 7 PM. A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 1 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brenham, TX. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel located at 1306 West Main Street, Brenham, Texas. To post a tribute to the family, please visit www. Memorialoakschapel.com.