James "Pancho" Polka

James Vernon “Pancho” Polka, 93, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2021. He was born on August 31, 1927 to Adam Edward Polka and Felicia Elizabeth Kronenberger Polka in Houston, Tx. James, known as “Pancho,” left high school in 1945 to join the U.S. Navy. He served in the South Pacific at the end of World War II.

Pancho married Ann Marie Metcalf in 1951 and they moved to Brazoria, TX in 1954. He was employed by the Lone Star Beer Distributing Company Inc. from 1954 until 1986 when he retired as General Manager and Vice President. In 1987, Pancho began his second career with Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department and retired as Captain in 2004.

For many years, Pancho enjoyed raising cattle as a hobby. He was a member of numerous civic organizations. One of these included being the president of Brazoria County Fair Association where he initiated the Special Children’s Day at the fair.

Pancho is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Adam Edward Polka Jr., and special grandson-in-law, Barry Casey.

Pancho is survived by his wife, Ann Marie Polka; children, Jesse “Jimbo” Polka (Sandy), Lori Comley (Herby), Raymond Polka (Stacey), and Robert Polka (Nicolle); grandchildren, Tiffany Casey, James “J.W.” Polka (Allison); great grandchildren, Brooks and Bennett Polka; and sisters, Elizabeth “Bitsy” Fisher, Marie Pearsall, Yvonne Byrd and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers include James Hoot, Wink Bowling, J.W. Polka, Chad Jones, Ken Wasek, and Mike Kahl.
Honorary pallbearers include Joe King, Charles Wagner, Taylor Hall Jr. (Bailey’s Prairie Kid), and officers of Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 10:00am at C.T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home in Brazoria.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am in the chapel of C.T. Baker & Sons in Brazoria, with Father Preston Quintela officiating. Interment will follow at Brazoria Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.