GILBERT J. HEGEMEYER
Gilbert J. Hegemeyer passed away on July 27, 2021, at the age of 87 years. He was born to the late Eddie C. Hegemeyer & Viola (Rinn) Hegemeyer on August 20, 1933, in Austin County, Texas. He spent most of his childhood in New Ulm, Texas, before moving to Houston, Texas, and marrying the love of his life, Emily (Kuhn) Hegemeyer, on November 26, 1960.
Gilbert attended Henkhaus Elementary School and Columbus High School before enlisting in the Army. He began his Basic Training on May 4, 1954, at Fort Bliss. Before being sent to Wurzburg, Germany as a Specialist 3rd Class in the 1st Infantry Division, he finished his Quartermaster Training in Fort Lee, Virginia. Gilbert was honorably discharged after returning to Fort Riley, Kansas, in May 1956.
Gilbert worked for TRW Mission in Houston for 17 years, Gulf Oil and Halliburton. He also ran Gilbert’s A/C and Heating Service for several years before retiring in 2001.
One of Gilbert’s favorite pastimes was sharing his expertise on repairing old cars with his grandsons, Cody and John Pyka. He loved gardening and traveling overseas. While employed at Halliburton, he donated much time and effort helping with their Annual Leukemia Society Jog-A-Longs (a 5-mile walk for life). He walked many miles as a member of the Katy Mills Mile Walker Club.
Gilbert was a St. Bartholomew Catholic Church member where he worked on the founding committee in 1960 and ushered on weekends.
Gilbert loved to share stories of his childhood with his grandsons, especially when he told them about his father paying the doctor who delivered him with a bottle of whiskey. And the time the lightning strike killed his prize turkeys that he was planning to show at an agriculture function.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Eddie & Viola Rinn) Hegemeyer and his brothers Newton and Eddie Hegemeyer, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Emily Kuhn Hegemeyer, a son Joel Hegemeyer and wife Diana, a daughter Jacqueline Hegemeyer Fisher and husband Keith, grandsons Cody & John Pyka, step-grandson Daniel Fisher and Amy Acosta Fisher, two great-grandchildren Sara & Ethan Fischer, sisters Lucille Gross and Deloris Kutra of Sealy, brother William Hegemeyer of Cat Spring, plus many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Cody Pyka, John Pyka, Clinton Hegemeyer, Michael Gross, Craig Kutra and Nathan Kuhn. Honorary pallbearers are Brian Hegemeyer, Edward Hegemeyer, Nathan Hegemeyer, and Chris Gurecky. Read ings were done by Steven Kutra.
Visitation was held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, 2021, at Schmidt Funeral Home, 1508 East Avenue, Katy, with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m.
Mass was celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 2, 2021, at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church, 5356 11th St., in Katy, with the Rev. Wayne Wilkerson, Celebrant.
Interment was at 2:00 p.m. at St. Roch’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Mentz, 1600 Frelsburg Road, Alleyton, Texas 78935.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Gilbert Hegemeyer to St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 5356 Eleventh Street, Katy, Texas (www. St-Bart.org), St. Roch’s Catholic Church, 1600 Frelsburg Road, Alleyton, Texas 78935, or Citizens for Animal Protection, 17555 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77094. Funeral services held under Schmidt Funeral Home, 1508 East Avenue, Katy, Texas 77493, (281)391-2424.