James Robert Closner

Weslaco: James “J.R.” Robert Closner, 51, peacefully entered into rest at his home surrounded by his loving family and dear friends on Thursday, July 14, 2022, after battling cancer for nearly two years.

James was born on June 16, 1971, to Robert Closner and Sandra Marroquin in Harlingen, Texas. He grew up in Mercedes with three younger brothers.

James was musically inclined and loved to sing and dance. He joined the band as early as possible and played the saxophone in the Mercedes High School Mighty Tiger Band. He also learned to play the piano, tambourine and harmonica. James and his friends started their first amateur band while they were in college. He and his buddies played in numerous bands for the rest of his life, including Par 3, Non-Profit, and Mercy Town, to name a few. A perfect night for James started with a “gig” and ended with karaoke.

James met his soulmate and best friend Sonia Renee Garcia in 1991 while attending Pan American University and were married at St. Xavier Catholic Church in La Feria, Texas, in 1998. They resided in Mercedes for several years and later moved to Weslaco, where they lived and raised their two children, Cora and Jack.

At the age of 16, James began working at their family’s business, Jimmy Closner & Sons Construction. He took great pride in his job and enjoyed working alongside his father and brothers.

At an early age, his dad introduced James to golf, which became one of his lifelong passions. He played in high school and enjoyed a few rounds of golf with family and friends, but he especially enjoyed his love of golf with his son Jack.

James also enjoyed a good barbecue and was a great cook. He won several BBQ trophies at local cookoffs and volunteered to barbecue for numerous fundraisers over the years. James was generous with his time and volunteered with the Weslaco Little League for many years, serving in various capacities, from President to cleanup crew.

James was “the life of the party.” He could brighten up any room and had a huge heart full of love. He took great pride in his children. He was a hands-on dad; attending their sporting events and supporting them in any way brought him joy. James was a loving husband, father, son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, and friend, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

James is preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Eric Jay Garcia, paternal grandparents Jimmy and Cora Closner and maternal grandparents Ismael and Mela Marroquin.

James is survived by a seemingly endless list of family, loved ones and friends. He leaves behind his loving wife of 24 years, Sonia Renee; two children, daughter, Cora Isabella; son, Jack Ryan; his father, Robert Closner; his mother, Sandra Closner; brothers, Michael Closner, Robert Closner Jr. (Raquel), and Steven Closner, father and mother-in-law, J.J. and Yolanda Garcia; sisters-in-law, Monica Garcia (Adam); Jamie Bartlett (Brandon), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family will receive friends from 3 pm to 9 pm on Wednesday, July 20th, and 10 am to 9 pm on Thursday, July 21st with a Celebration of Life on Thursday at 7 pm, at McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco. Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 22, at 10 am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Weslaco.