Kenneth Wayne Callender

Kenneth "Kenny" Wayne Callender, 73, of Sealy, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home on September 4, 2026. 

He was born on November 11, 1952, in Galveston, TX, to James Ray Callender, Sr. and Margaret Terrebone Callender. He grew up and went to school in Hitchcock, Texas, and graduated from Hitchcock High School in 1971. 

He was a big sports fan and played baseball and other sports while in High School. He then attended Sam Houston State University, where he met the love of his life, Judy Janda of Sealy, Texas, in 1973. 

It didn't take long for them to realize that they were meant for each other. They were engaged in December 1973 and were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Sealy on May 11, 1974. They lived in Houston for a short while until they moved to Sealy before their first child of four was born. 

Sealy became their permanent home. Kenny worked for Mrs. Bairds for 19 years. He then went to HEB in Brenham for 15 years as the back door manager. Kenny never met a stranger and made many new friends while working there. 

They raised their four children, Kristie, Kelly, Katie, and Kenny Boy, in Sealy, Texas. As his children grew up, he coached many of their baseball and softball teams. This led to many trips for cross country, volleyball, basketball, football, baseball, track, and softball. They also attended many football games, watching their son play and their 3 daughters cheerleading. Because of his children, Kenny was a proud Sealy Tiger Fan. 

Kenny loved to travel with his family. One of their favorite vacation spots was Lake Buchanan. They started going in 1981. This June completed 45 years of summer vacations, missing only a few years because of low lake water. They made many memories with lots of family and friends. Kenny was known as the bus driver of the boat and pulled many skiers and tubers who were lined up in the water waiting for their turn. 

Kenny also loved his road trips to Colorado every spring break. The entire family learned to snow ski and enjoyed the hours skiing and tubing down the mountain with lots of family and friends. Kenny also loved to cruise with family and friends. 

The first cruise was in 1999 for their 25th anniversary, and the last cruise was in May of this year to celebrate anniversary number 52. This totaled 19 cruises, which he loved immensely. 

Kenny was always celebrating with his children and grandchildren the many birthdays, Easters, and Christmases. He was always the life of the party, and we never stopped laughing. Just as he followed his children to all their events, he and Judy were always following the grandchildren to their events, which included lamb and goat shows, County fairs, FFA, volleyball, football, softball, basketball, baseball, track, cross country, and flag football. The grandchildren also enjoyed many days swimming in the pool and making all of us laugh. 

Kenny is survived by his loving wife, Judy, and their children Kristie(Anthony) Davila, Kelly (Jeff) Hinze, Katie (Aaron) Cox, and Kenny Boy(Kristin) Callender. His memory will live on in the lives of his 10 grandchildren: Jordyn (23), Ashlyn (21), and Kadyn Davila(15), Addy(16) and Lyndi Hinze(14), Karsyn(16), Keith(14), and Kodi Cox(3), and Eleanor(13) and Grady Callender(9). He loved them so much! He is also survived by his father, James Ray Callender, Sr.(97), Sister Cindi(Eric) Edwards, sister-in-law Kay Callender, brother-in-law Jerry Janda, brother-in-law Pete Kovar, brother-in-law and Judy's twin brother Johnny Janda, sister-in-law Mary Marcinkiewicz, brother-in-law John Marcinkiewicz, and many nieces and nephews. 

Kenny was preceded in death by his mother Margaret, his brother Jim, niece and nephew Dana and Christopher, Mother-in-law and father-in-Law Helen and Edwin Janda; sister-in-law and Brother-in-Law Charlene and Edward Janda, sister-in-Law Diane Janda, sister-in-Law Joyce Kovar and nephew Brian Kovar. 

Kenny will be greatly missed by Judy and their children and grandchildren. He has left us all with wonderful memories of times shared together. 

Pallbearers are Kenny Callender, Grady Callender, Anthony Davila, Jerry Janda, Jeff Hinze, John Marcinkiewicz, Aaron Cox, and Keith Cox.

Honorary Pallbearers are Jordyn Davila, Ashlyn Davila, Kadyn Davila, Addy Hinze, Lyndi Hinze, Karsyn Cox, Kodi Cox, and Eleanor Callender.