Billy Joseph Olle was born in San Antonio on May 29, 1930 to Alfred H. Olle, Sr and Hedwig Manilla Eichholz Olle. He was united in marriage to Laura Foster Dalehite on October 24, 1953. He was a loving husband to her for 61 years before her passing in 2015. All because two people fell in love he became a Father of 4, Grandfather of 16 and Great Grandfather of 42 and will be a Great Great Grandfather of 1 in December, 2023. After a 13 year journey with Parkinson's Disease, he passed away at his home at the age of 93 surrounded by his family on November 5, 2023.

In 1947, he joined the United States Navy at the age of 17. The navy was told he was 18 at the time just so he could enlist. He fought in the Korean War shortly after enlisting. After serving his 4 years in the Navy he started his 38 year career in Civil Service at Security Hill at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio. He served as a lifetime member of VFW Post 6970.

In 1953, he met the love of his life. On their first date he told her that the passenger door was broken and she would have to get in on the driver's side thinking she would stop in the middle of the bench seat. She scooted over to the passenger side, he then told her that it was her choice, but sometimes that passenger door flies open so you might want to scoot closer to me, so she did. And that's how their life together began.

Their family of two soon became a family of 6. They made sure their children learned the basics and responsibilities of life by being involved in Church, 4H, FFA, Home Economics, showing animals, and other school activities. They were very involved in the county 4H program and became an award-winning family. Billy received the Atascosa County 4H Father of the Year award in 1974 and their family was the first family in Atascosa County to have all 4 children to receive Gold Star Boys and Gold Star Girl awards. This was the highest honor in 4H and Laura was very instrumental in helping and guiding her children with their projects.

Billy and Laura were involved with each grandchild from day one. They also watched each of their grandchildren while their parents worked. It was a normal day to have 13 or more kids in their home on any day of the week. If it got too loud in the house, he would always find a project to work on in the barn. The boys got to go with their DanDan to the Auction every Tuesday. Occasionally some of the girls got to go. As the grandkids started school and became involved in different school activities – DanDan and BomBom were there to support. Whether it be sporting events, 4H or FFA events, showing animals or band contests you could look up in the bleachers and see them. They received the Pleasanton Athletic Booster Club Spirit Award for the school year 2000-2001 for their outstanding support of the athletes.

DanDan – a name given to him by his first Grandchild because she couldn't say Granddad is one of the greatest names anyone can speak. He was loved and respected by many. He loved family time. Every Sunday the kids and grandkids would come over for his fried chicken, beans and potato salad or his Turkey and Dressing at Thanksgiving or his fried bacon and egg sandwiches at the annual coast trip. All his meals were made with love and a mess. He always said the bigger the mess the better the food. He always looked forward to any time when the family could be together, he started an annual coast trip to Rockport when his 4 kids were young, and that tradition carried on until there wasn't a place big enough to house all of us. He enjoyed taking the kids to shell island in the canoe, baiting hooks, setting crab traps and showing the kids how to throw out their lines. He loved being outside, working his cattle, riding his tractor, and gardening. He would take home grown tomatoes that he grew in his garden to his workplace and would sell a brown paper bag full of tomatoes for $2.00. He is famous for his dill pickles that he made every year, and the recipe has been passed down to others to continue the tradition. All the men would gather once a year to make deer sausage links and pan sausage. He couldn't wait to get the mixture done so he could send someone to the house to fry some up to see how it tasted. He enjoyed watching westerns on tv, which is another trait he passed down to his boys.  He entered his pecans in the County Fair for years and came home with a blue ribbon each year. He very seldom asked for help in doing anything but if he did ask and he wanted to start work at 7:00 am you had better be there by 6:45 am or you were late.

Whether you called him Bill, Billy, Uncle Bill, Mr. Olle, Dad or DanDan he always had a smile for you. As one of his children, grandchildren or great grandchildren, when you got a hug from him you also got his butterfly kisses on your cheek.

He is survived by his children, Michael and wife Darala, Cheryl and husband Eddie, Martin, Mark and wife Carla. He is also survived by 16 Grandchildren, Aubrey, Stefani, Chris, Stacy, Bryan, Jennifer, Sara, Stephen, John, Kevin, Justin, Jessica, Beau, Jacquelyn, Jordyn and Karrah. 42 Great Grandchildren and his first Great Great Grandchild is due in December. We would also like to thank the awesome caregivers, especially the most recent Jessica Gonzales and Clara Aguero that loved him like he was their own and all the others that took such great care of him the past few years.

Visitation will be held on Friday November 17, 2023 from 4pm – 8pm with a rosary at 7:00pm at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Pleasanton, TX. Funeral Services Celebrating his life will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 10:00am at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Pleasanton, with burial to follow at St. Josephs Cemetery.