Gary Underbrink

Gary L. Underbrink, 72, of Kingsville, Texas passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. A time for the family to receive friends will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2016 at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary Chapel. A Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2016 at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 23 at St. Gertrude's Catholic Church in Kingsville with Fr. James Stembler officiating. Interment will follow at Chamberlain Cemetery with military honors.
Gary, son of Cornelius and Adelaide Underbrink, was born on February 11, 1944 in Kingsville, Texas. Gary graduated from H.M. King High School in Kingsville. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanized Agriculture from Texas A&I University in Kingsville. Upon graduation from college, Gary served in the United States Navy Construction Battalion Military Unit (Navy Seabees). During his military service, Gary was stationed in Vietnam and Antarctica. After completing his military service, Gary accepted a position as a research associate at Texas A&M University. As a research associate, Gary assisted in developing the cotton module builder system which helped cotton farmers around the world harvest their cotton crops more efficiently. In 1980, Gary moved from College Station back to his home town of Kingsville, Texas. He grew up on the farm, and he decided to return to Kingsville to begin his farming career. Throughout his farming career, Gary was known for adapting farm equipment to improve the production of his farming operation. Gary continued to farm in the Kleberg County area until his retirement in 2015.
Gary was dedicated to the farming community, and he served on many boards and committees in the agricultural community. Gary is a former chairman and board of director for the Kleberg County Co-op. During Gary's tenure as chairman, the Kleberg County Farmers Co-op merged with several local co-ops to form the Gulf Coast Co-op. Gary served on the Kleberg County Farm Bureau board starting in 1982, and he served as president and a member of the cotton and grain committees. The Texas Farm Bureau recognized Gary as a Pioneer Award winner in 2011 for his contributions to agriculture. In January 2016, the Kleberg County Farm Bureau dedicated their new board room in his honor to thank him for his many years of service to the agricultural community. Gary served as a past chairman for the Kleberg County Extension Row Crop and Coastal Bend Cotton Integrated Pest Management steering committees. Gary also served on boards for the Plains Cotton Co-op, Kleberg County National Resource Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, South Texas Cotton and Grain Association, Lower Coastal Bend Texas Department of Agriculture Stalk Destruction Committee, and the Boll Weevil Eradication Steering Committee. Gary is a member of St. Gertrude's Catholic Church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
The family would like to thank the ALS/MDA Clinic at Houston Methodist Hospital, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, and Christus Spohn Kleberg Hospital for their wonderful care. In addition, the family would like to express special thanks to the compassionate in-house medical care team coordinated by Lillian (Lou) Wilson and consisting of Debbie Carter, Yvonne Flores, Martiza Gonzalez, Joyce Burse, Gabriel Mata, and Leonessia Mejorado.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Cornelius and Adelaide Underbrink. Gary is survived by his wife of 44 years, Joan Underbrink; his daughter, Shelley (Brian) Mosser; his son, Ryan (Sarah) Underbrink; his grandsons, Luke Mosser and Timothy Underbrink; siblings, Charles (Joy) Underbrink, Bill (Sandra) Underbrink, James (Judy) Underbrink, Mary Anne Underbrink, and Margaret (Mike) Pendaz; brothers-in-laws, Curtis (Susan) Jungman and Robert (Carol) Jungman; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the ALS Association - Gary's Gang, 1213 Hermann Dr, Suite 525, Houston, TX 77004 or http://web.alsa.org/goto/GaryU.
Services are entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd., Kingsville, Texas.

Visitation

Turcotte-Piper Mortuary Chapel
205 General Cavazos Blvd.
Kingsville, TX  78363
Friday, July 22, 2016
5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Service

Rosary

Turcotte-Piper Mortuary Chapel
205 General Cavazos Blvd.
Kingsville, TX  78363
Friday, July 22, 2016
7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass

St. Gertrude's Catholic Church
1120 South 8th Street
Kingsville, TX  78363
Saturday, July 23, 2016
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Chamberlain Cemetery
735 West Caesar Avenue
Kingsville, TX  78363

Memorial Contributions

ALS Association - Gary's Gang
1213 Hermann Drive, Suite 525
Houston, TX  77004