JUANITA BUXKEMPER
1925-2022
Juanita Buxkemper, 96, of Schulenburg, Texas, passed away on October 13, 2022, in Schulenburg, Texas.
She was born on October 28, 1925, in Westphalia, Texas. She was the fourth of eight children of Henry and Antoinette Beach. The family’s Catholic faith was especially important and much of their lives revolved around the Catholic Church. Juanita’s Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and first Marriage were at the Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, Texas. The church also operated a parochial school. She attended that school for all her grammar and high school years except her final year. Her final year she attended Rosebud High School and graduated in 1943. She had a love of sports and played basketball during her school years and was the team captain.
She always had an outgoing personality from a young age. It was easy for her to make friends and she was a friend to many. Those traits were evident throughout her life.
After graduation, she worked two years on the family farm before meeting and marrying Arthur Reichl, an army serviceman from Chicago stationed in Temple, Texas. After their marriage, they moved to Chicago, Illinois. They were married twenty years and had three children: Barbara, Charlene (Deceased 1952), and Douglas. During that period of time, she worked in the restaurant business to help support the family. She started out in smaller restaurants and then worked at some of the finest restaurants in Chicago. She was a friend to her customers who affectionately called her “Tex,” many of whom became lifelong friends. Her demanding work enabled the family to live a comfortable middle-class life in the suburbs of Chicago.
After the annulment of her first marriage, a new chapter began in her life. She met and fell in love with Leonard Buxkemper, who was from Texas. In 1968, they were married in Joliet, Illinois. Leonard went to work in the employment agency business while she continued in the restaurant business. In 1972, they decided to move back to Texas. Together they opened Hallmark Personnel, an employment agency in Houston. This was possible with the seed money provided from the sale of the house in Chicago that she had worked so hard to pay for over the years. From 1972 through 1983, they ran a successful business. This allowed them to build a beautiful home in Wimberley, Texas. They were also able to travel the world and see the sights in Europe, Asia, South Africa, and other beautiful tourist destinations.
They retired in 1983, but after two years of retirement they decided to open another personnel agency in Austin. After a few successful years in Austin, they decided to finally retire for good. At that point they bought a fifth wheel RV and set out to see the entire U.S., Canada, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. During these years they found time in between their trips to be wonderful grandparents to their four grandchildren. She enjoyed the fellowship and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
She is survived by her sister, Ruth Jahns; sistersin- law, Nita Beach, Dolores Beach and Lillian Beach; her children, Barbara Griffiths and Douglas (Susan) Reichl; grandchildren, Scott Griffiths, owner, Live Oak Distribution LLC, Renee (Yannig) Reichl Luthra, Ph.D., Dr. Erik Reichl, and Matthew Reichl Ph.D.; and great-grandchild Michele- Christine Luthra. She is also survived and loved by many nieces and nephews in the Beach, Reichl and Buxkemper families.
Family and friends were cordially invited to a visitation on Monday, October 17, 2022, from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church in Weimar, Texas. A parish rosary was held at 9:30 a.m. and the funeral mass followed at 10 a.m., with Father Wayne Flagg officiating. Burial was in St. Michael Catholic Cemetery in Weimar.
In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, contributions in Juanita’s memory may be directed to M.D. Anderson Hospital Cancer Center at gifts.mdanderson.org.
Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome.com.