A.J. "Tony" Urbanczyk, 85, longtime resident of Hereford, Texas passed away on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 in Hereford. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church of Hereford with Father Tony Neusch and Father Nick Gerber officiating. Burial will follow at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements and Services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford, TX. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 29, 2021 from 3:00 – 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home with Rosary being recited at 6:00 P.M.

Tony was born on October 30, 1935 to Felix and Eugenia (Moczygemba) Urbanczyk in Pampa, Texas.

So God made a Farmer. Tony Urbanczyk was two years old when his parents moved from White Deere, Texas to live south of Hereford in 1937. He attended St. Anthony's school in what is currently Deaf Smith County Museum and graduated from Hereford High School in 1954. Tony married his high school sweetheart Loretta Strafuss on August 20, 1957, celebrating 63 years of marriage this last summer. Their first home was a small house built by Tony and willing family members. It has been expanded and remodeled as the family grew to five sons and one baby girl. He loved the country life but liked the convenience of town a few miles away. Tony was the local Northrup King Seed Dealer for 40 years. Farming was his life and was known for only driving Red tractors and purchased from Oglesby Equipment. Tony has been a lifelong member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church and served as an usher, lector, and CYO sponsor where he drove kids many miles to ski trips and was an excellent boat driver at the lake. He was a member of the 4 ^th Degree of the Knights of Columbus and was Grand Knight when the KC Hall was built. As the kids got more involved in stock show life. Tony was a great supporter of the FFA and 4-H and was well known for his love of Hank the Cowdog books on tape on any stock show trip. Tony was also and avid fisherman and hunter. Tony welcomed many "relatives from the South" and also the "Bishops" for yearly opening day pheasant hunts. Over the years the family grew and he became the best Papa to his many grandkids. He was always willing to teach and share his farming knowledge of how it needs to be done and head weather checker. His greatest joy was watching his grandkids and great grands in whatever activities they were involved in. He was seen daily driving the grounds and checking his garden harvest in his beloved Mule and being head of farm security.

Those left to cherish his memories are his wife Loretta, his sons Kevin Urbanczyk of Hereford, TX, Mark Urbanczyk and his wife Micki of Custer City, OK, Brian Urbanczyk and his wife Pattie, Chris Urbanczyk and his wife Kamille, and Greg Urbanczyk and his wife Farron all of Hereford, TX, his daughter Lori Johnson and her husband Troy of Nazareth , TX, brother in law Carl Strafuss and his wife Joan of Hereford, TX, fourteen grandchildren Jacob Urbanczyk and his wife Lauren, Caleb Urbanczyk and his wife Bailey, Kaeli Jo Hales and her husband Reece, Kesli Coffelt and her husband Jared, Madison Boren and her husband Brodie, Hannah Culp and her husband Kegan, Hank Urbanczyk, Dylan McGinty, Gavin Urbanczyk, Colton Urbanczyk, Nolan Urbanczyk, Shay Johnson, Molly Johnson, and Harper Johnson, and nine great grandchildren.

Tony is preceded in death by his parents Felix and Eugenia Urbanczyk, brother Conrad Urbanczyk, sisters Irene Dzuik, Theresa Kotara, Edna Reinart, Rosalie (Rusty) Stengel, Leona Mazurek and Ethel (Beth) Stengel.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the St. Anthony's Endowment Fund, 114 Sunset Dr., Hereford, Texas 79045.

You may sign the online guestbook at www.mendezandmullins.com