Wesley Edward Pokluda was born in Weimer, TX in September of 1928 to Edward and Catherine (Prillop) Pokluda. Two sisters, Maxine and Mozelle, soon joined them.

The family moved to Texas City, TX, where Wes was a star athlete at Texas City High School. He was active in scouting and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He played football and ran track. Football was a lifelong interest, and Wes followed the Texas Longhorns until the end of his life.

After high school, Wes went to the University of Texas at Austin. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, where he made friendships that lasted well after college. He remained active in sports, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track on his fraternity intramural team.

After college, he served in the US Army for two years during the Korean Conflict. He was a corporal in the 82nd Airborne Division, based in Ft. Bragg, NC. He received an honorable discharge in 1954.

Wes went to work at the Continental Oil Company as a landman, where he built a 30-year career. He was relocated to South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and finally back to his home state of Texas. He retired from Conoco in the early 1980s.

While living in Billings, MT he married JoAnn Penica and they had two daughters, Dawn Cowan of Billings and Lisa (Robin) Praeger of San Francisco. He enjoyed vacationing with his family and planned several trips to resort areas.

His favorite hobbies were golf; watching and analyzing Longhorns football games with his nephew, Mark Halfmann; fishing; and barbecuing (like any good Texan).

Wes is predeceased by his sisters and his partner, Jean Page; he leaves behind his daughters and son-in-law and their children, Nathan Praeger and Julia Praeger (Christopher Tomera), as well as nieces and nephews in Texas. He remained healthy throughout most of his life until he had a fall and passed away less than a week later.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers at Primrose Retirement Living who cared for and befriended him for the last five years.

The family held a small ceremony at Yellowstone National Cemetery, where his ashes were buried with an Honor Guard salute.