James (Jimmy) Petzold

Jan. 17, 1964 ~ Feb. 2, 2026

James Tracey Petzold of Marlin, Falls Co., TX passed away in the presence of his loving brothers and cousins on Groundhog Day, 2 Feb 2026, in Waco, McLennan Co., TX. He had just reached his 62nd birthday two weeks before.

Jimmy was born on 17 Jan 1964 in Coleman, Coleman Co., TX, the second son of James Theodore Petzold (1937-95) and Rosemary Frances Shapiro (1941-2018). Daddy was stationed there with the Texas Highway Patrol and Momma was a schoolteacher. Jimmy would later go on to attend elementary and high schools in El Paso, El Paso Co., TX, Valley Mills, Bosque Co., TX, and Waco, before finally graduating from old Richfield High School there in 1982.

Our brother regarded our years in Valley Mills as among the happiest of his life. He was rooted there, with our ancestry in Bosque County going back 160 years. Daddy's parents, Tado Petzold (1909-1973) and Rita Lillian McNeill (1907-1981), plus many great-aunts and uncles, were still with us, so it made for a wonderful life. He loved his teachers there, too, including Mrs. Lane, Mrs. Potter, and Danny Wible. Growing up in Valley Mills in the 1970s gave Jimmy many lifelong friends and memories.

Jimmy was mechanically inclined and very creative. He could organize Fibber McGee's closet and was the only one to whom I brought my toys to be decaled. He was also musically inclined, being a trombonist at Valley Mills and Richfield. He was a great cook and you should be disappointed if you never had his stacked enchiladas or famous salsas. His favorite sweet to make was our Auntie Velma's recipe for chocolate oatmeal cookies, but which he gave a name that can't be printed in a family newspaper. Jimmy had a good singing voice, too. I remember one Christmas Eve, we were driving to Momma's and singing along with the radio and "O Holy Night" came on. Jimmy sang it out with Luciano, as I recall, and nailed every note. I will always treasure that memory.

Jimmy was a hard worker in his youth. Restaurants, convenience stores (including one he owned there in Waco), Skaggs, fast food, etc. He liked working so much because that was his community. It was a way to meet people and charm them, which he was very good at. He loved people and had a high emotional intelligence, staying in touch with old friends from every stage of his life, and making them feel special because they were to him. Especially in these last few years, his brothers have been moved by how often his nurses, technicians, and transportation providers say they think of him as a friend. That was our folks' example at work in him.

Jimmy spent most of his life in Austin, Travis Co., TX where he ran a carpet cleaning business, worked for TXDOT, took classes at Austin Community College, bartended and bounced, lived and loved. He was a Christian, conservative, and the cleanest liver you ever met: never smoked a Lucky or a joint or even drank a beer. He had his first sip of coffee at the age of 58, as I recall, and didn't like it.

Jimmy was also our mother's primary caretaker in her final years. Just as our eldest brother made a home for our father in his final illness, Jimmy did his best to give Momma the dignity and comfort of their home together. When Jimmy's health began to decline, too, it was my turn to give him a place to be, which was fine, except for the chronic struggle over the arrangement and, sometimes, disappearance of items in my refrigerator. IYKYK.

Jimmy is survived by his brother Tim and sister-in-law Heike of the Austin area; brother/eulogist Toby of Marlin; and brother Jentry and sister-in-law Kim Sue of Waco, plus their children Seager and Lula, whom "Unco Shimmy" loved very much. Our cousin Susan Kleibrink McGuire of Valley Mills and her husband Edwin and their family have been a welcome comfort to Jimmy. He is also survived by his daughter-by-love Jasmine Craig and her husband Todd; and by his best friend Don Martin of Georgia and his wife Nermine and their baby Sophia.

A celebration of life is being contemplated for a future date when the usual animals no longer see their shadows, but the interment is set soon at the City Cemetery in Valley Mills beside Jimmy's great-grandmother Amilie Augusta Rackow Petzold (1871-1943).

James Petzold Memorial Video

Foss Funeral Home being in charge.

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