Cuero says goodbye to Cole Pargmann
Thousands from the small town of Cuero and the surrounding area turned out to mourn the loss of 17-year-old Cuero football player Cole Pargmann on Friday. Pargmann died after an ATV accident last weekend.
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Hospitalized father released for son's funeral. Advocate staff report. CUERO - Cory Pargmann attended funeral services for his son Cole on Friday after being involved in a motorcycle wreck Wednesday night.
Pargmann, a member of the Gobblers 1987 Class 3A ...
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Hospitalized father released for son's funeral. Advocate staff report. CUERO - Cory Pargmann attended funeral services for his son Cole on Friday after being involved in a motorcycle wreck Wednesday night.
Pargmann, a member of the Gobblers 1987 Class 3A state championship football team, said he doesn't even remember the accident.
Pargmann said he was low on fuel and filled up his tank at Leske's, and the next thing he recalls is leaving his home and going to Cuero Community Hospital.
Pargmann said he was flown to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio and suffered some head trauma, including a concussion, facial contusions and an ankle injury. Pargmann was released for the funeral service and has returned home.
"My head and ankle hurt," Pargmann said, "but I should be all right."
CUERO - Shane Harryman is amazed over the impact his cousin, friend and teammate had on so many people.
"You touched so many lives," Harryman said, "and you're still touching people."
The mark Cole Pargmann made was evident by the 1,350 people that gathered in the Cuero Competition Gym on Friday morning to both mourn his passing and celebrate his life.
Pargmann, 17, died Sunday from injuries he suffered in an ATV mishap on Saturday while visiting relatives in West Texas.
Pargmann was looking forward to beginning his senior season of football on Monday. Instead many of his teammates, wearing their jerseys, joined relatives, classmates, friends and community members and viewed portraits of the person known affectionately as "CP22," before saying farewell.
"Folks in many places are asking what happened and why," said Pastor Charles Eckert of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. "We don't have answers for that."
Pargmann was remembered by many for his athletic career at Cuero, which included football, track and field, basketball and junior varsity baseball. He was remembered by some as an avid outdoorsman, and by others for his good deeds and mischievous nature.
"It is a tremendous honor for me to stand up here and give Cole's eulogy," said Joe Adams, who noted that more than once he had uttered Pargmann's name while giving his signature "Touchdown Gobblers" call during the radio broadcasts of Cuero football games.
Adams read a eulogy written by Pargmann's grandmother highlighting the long chats he had with his mother, Michele, the fishing tournaments he attended in Corpus Christi with his father, Cory, and the good times he shared with older brother and best friend, Bo.
Adams recalled the times he and his son, Joey, spent with Pargmann and his family in West Texas.
"We felt like we bonded with them," Adams said. "I know I miss him tremendously, but at least he spent his last moments doing what he loved to do. He once told me riding on an ATV made him feel as free as the wind."
Pargmann anxiously awaited his chance to play football for Cuero, like his father and brother had done before him. But Pargmann missed his seventh-grade season after falling off a horse and breaking his arm. He still attended practices and played as a freshman and sophomore.
A broken leg suffered after he had rushed for 99 yards in the 2008 season opener against Beeville threatened to derail Pargmann's junior season. But he worked hard and returned for the last regular-season game and became an important part of the Gobblers' drive to the Class 3A Division I semifinals.
"You were the strongest person I ever knew," Harryman said. "You blocked the pain and kept on going."
This year's Cuero team will try and deal with the pain caused by the loss of a teammate, but Pargmann's presence will continue to be felt.
"You will never be forgotten by any person here today," Harryman promised.
Comments
I wholeheartedly disagree with the Advocates choice of front page picture. Whatever their reason, whatever their permission, in my opinion they overstepped all boundaries when exploiting this families grief. A smaller picture within the story would still be wrong but would have been better. This time was a time to remember an amazing young man and the short life that he lived. He should have been honored.
At the least I believe the Advocate, whether they mean it or not, should write a front page apology to the Pargmann/DeLeon family for the exploitation of this extremely private moment.
August 4, 2009 at 8:27 a.m.Save your breath pilot.....
August 2, 2009 at 11:05 p.m.yes, permission was granted to have the Advocate cover the funeral. However, the family was not aware of the Michele's picture being the main focus. As a personal friend, I can tell you that she is very upset about it being chosen. I believe a shot of Cole's casket with his letterjacket, helmet, photo, and helmet decals would have been more appropriate. Celebrate his life and passing not the grief of his family.
August 2, 2009 at 9:11 p.m.Thank you! For the Clarification Chris.
August 2, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.For those asking, Tipsy is correct. We sent a reporter and photographer to the funeral only after getting the family's permission first.
In such difficult times, we always err on respecting the wishes of the family. We join everyone else in extending our heartfelt condolences.
August 2, 2009 at 8:58 p.m.Nope not the TC Baker I know!
August 2, 2009 at 8:57 p.m."If it bleeds, it leads" A long time motto for most newspapers. If it it has blood or pain or agony, you can be sure a newspaper will jump on it without regard for the feelings of the people involved. I'm surprised that some enterprising reporter didn't ask Cole's mother how she felt about riding ATVs.
August 2, 2009 at 6:22 p.m.I really don't think TC Baker would take pictures and print them without speaking wih the family. I did not know Cole. My prayers go out to this family and community.
August 2, 2009 at 2:36 p.m.I have to agree with all the angry people. This is absolutely the most disrespectful thing I have witnessed. The Victoria Advocate has really upset a lot of people by publishing these pictures. The family is grieving over their loss of such a precious young man and now their pictures are plastered in the paper for everyone to see. It is hard enough for the family to go through something like this but much less have to wake up to their pictures in the paper. The advocate should consider the families feelings before publishing such a picture. If the advocate continues to make such unconsiderate choices, it might result in a decline in paper sales.
August 2, 2009 at 12:35 p.m.This is such a tragedy. To lose a son in such a way is beyond comprehension. Parents please allow your boys to be boys, but for heaven's sake have them wear helmets and buddy up when they are out on the property. Life is so precious. Perhaps the Pargmann's loss can somehow not be in vain if just one kid buddies up or adds a helmet when he gets on an ATV.
August 1, 2009 at 11:23 p.m.As a friend of Cole and of the family I have to say I can NOT believe they would post the picture of Michele and Bo. It makes me absolutely SICK. The family is grieving and dealing with a horrible loss and they're having to deal with seeing their faces plastered across the Victoria Advocate. I think it's really, really disrespectful even if the article was meant to honor Cole. I don't think they appreciate it and I can promise you Cole wouldn't want anyone to see his mother like that in the media. Cole will be greatly missed every single day as long as I live. <3
August 1, 2009 at 10:48 p.m.I wanted to attended the services for Cole Pargmann, but unfortunately, I was unable to attend his funeral services. I know these pictures might seem a bit intrusive, but I'm so glad they were available to give me an insight on how his send off to heaven was given. The picture of Cole's mother being comforted by her son is one of the saddest pictures I've seen in a long time. Also, the picture of his team mates carrying his casket is just heartbreaking. Thank you to the Pargmann family for letting us all grieve with them. R.I.P. CTP.
August 1, 2009 at 8:43 p.m.My prayers to his family,
I thought the same about the picture when I first saw it, then I thought how touching, a son comforting his mother in his own time of grief.
August 1, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.CueroGirl, I thought the same thing about that picture. Kind of adds to the injury, IMO.
My condolences to the family at this sad time.
August 1, 2009 at 2:32 p.m.I think it is rediculous that the picture of Cole's mom crying was the main photo of the article in the paper. Having that photo of Michele up there is just rude. Their family is in mourning and having that photo in there probably didn't help much. If something like this comes up again you should probably think about the family's feelings before putting up a picture like that!
August 1, 2009 at 2:11 p.m.When a kid loses a classmate/friend it is the most heart wrenching thing ever! Our son lost five friends in those years which we think changed him forever. My heart goes out to Cole's family and friends. God Bless You and help you get through.
August 1, 2009 at 2:09 p.m.didn't a motorcycle wreck kill this young person and the father hurt himself on a motorcycle too?
August 1, 2009 at 1:02 p.m.A fitting send off for a fine young man that will be missed by so many. It is such a tragedy when a young person loses their life and especially one so talented and adored. Cuero is definitely a family town & losing Cole was like losing one of your own. Our sympathies and prayers to Cole's family & many many friends. Cuero football will not be the same without him. God bless you Cole and rest in peace.
August 1, 2009 at 8:15 a.m.I did not know Cole, but I am deeply moved by this article. My prayers are with the family and friends during this most difficult time. This is really sad.
August 1, 2009 at 12:08 a.m.