Johnnie Trnka

Johnnie Ruth (Brymer) Trnka, 89, of Caldwell went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 15, 2022, from complications of a stroke she suffered in March 2022.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the Strickland Funeral Home Chapel in Caldwell, Texas with Pastor Jacob Roach from Caldwell First Assembly officiating.  Visitation will be on Monday, June 20, 2022, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, also at Strickland Funeral Home.

Johnnie Ruth was born in Pasadena, Texas on April 30, 1933, to John and Tommie (Dunaway) Brymer. She grew up in Caldwell, Texas in the Porter’s Chapel community and graduated from Caldwell High School in 1951.   She met the love of her life and future husband, Edwin Trnka, at a dance in Caldwell.  They were married on July 1, 1953 and would have celebrated 69 years of marriage in just 16 days.  They were blessed with one son, Thomas Edwin Trnka.

Johnnie Ruth was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Burleson County and was a long-time church secretary/treasurer prior to its closing.  She worked for General Telephone Company as a switchboard operator for several years after graduation and early in her marriage.  After that, she was a homemaker and sold minnows from their home before going to work for her brother and sister-in-law at Brymer Dozer Service, retiring in 1996.

Johnnie Ruth enjoyed fishing and spending time with her family.  She also loved to cook and bake for her family, especially for her two granddaughters whom she adored.  She always made sure to prepare and send food and goodies back with them when they were in college.  Johnnie Ruth was an excellent cook and prepared many delicious meals for her family, and she could bake the best pecan, chocolate, and lemon meringue pies!

She is preceded in death by her parents; five brothers – Marion, Lynn, Benson, and David Brymer, as well as an infant brother; three sisters – Annelle Smith, Jewel Robin, and Lillian Moore; sisters-in-law – Eleanor Brymer, Tuffy Brymer and Joy Brymer; brothers-in-law - Roy Smith, Merrill Robin, Floyd Moore and Jodie Trnka, and her in-laws, Bonnie and Sidonie Trnka.

Johnnie Ruth is survived by her loving husband, Edwin Trnka; her son, Thomas, and his wife Bengee (Poehl) Trnka of Caldwell; two granddaughters, Kymberlee Trnka of Katy, and Kyndall (Trnka) Tonn and her husband Caleb Tonn of Caldwell; and one great-grandson, her pride and joy, Koleson Layne Tonn, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Serving as Pallbearers will be William Brymer, Leon Rhame, Kenneth Moore, Nathan Ausley, Gary Franzetti and Larry Blum.

She will be remembered as a very sweet, loving, and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, and she will be greatly missed.