KAHLICH

David E. Kahlich of Weimar, age 91, left this life on Mar. 7 after a brief illness, while at home holding his wife’s hand.

David was born Aug. 7, 1930 to Frank and Lillie Kahlich in Weimar, the second of three children. He attended St. Michael School and Weimar High School. He was active in Scouts and lettered in football and track while in high school. He also began a life-long love affair with planes and flying. Before he even had a driver’s license, David obtained his pilot’s license by taking advantage of a flight training school in Schulenburg during WWII. It’s said that his mother was his first passenger. After graduating as Salutatorian of the Class of 1949, he attended the University of Notre Dame in Indiana where he received his BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1953 with Cum Laude honors.

While at Notre Dame, David founded the glider club and was its first president. He argued that students needed to get some practical, hands on experience with aerodynamics and found faculty support in Dr. Robert Eikenberry, professor of Aeronautical Engineering, who became the club’s sponsor. He took his last glider flight when his children gave him a flight for his 70th birthday. His co-pilot said he still had the touch all those years later.

In high school, David met his future wife, Elvera Willrodt, at a sodality meeting in Moravia. They corresponded while in college, and, after a school dance his junior year at Notre Dame, he proposed to her at the Grotto, a Marian shrine on the Notre Dame campus. They married on Aug. 15, 1953, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus, and settled down in Arlington, where David was employed as an engineer with Chance Vought Aircraft Inc.

His time at Notre Dame had a profound effect on David. Besides forming lifelong friendships with fellow engineering students, he was deeply impressed by Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, the long-standing university president, who instilled in him a sense of duty toward the community that had supported him up to that point. So when David had the opportunity to join the family business in Weimar, the couple moved to Weimar in 1955 and he immersed himself in civic activities and religious organizations, joining the Knights of Columbus, the Weimar Lions Club and the Weimar Volunteer Fire Department as well as stepping up his involvement with St. Michael Parish.

Throughout the years, he served his parish as a church board member, picnic chairman, lector and eucharistic minister. As a Knight of Columbus, he held many officer positions including being Grand Knight for three years as well as a District Deputy. He was Scoutmaster for K of C sponsored Troop 124 and was Advisor for K of C sponsored Explorer Post 124. He became a member of St. Michael Fourth Degree Assembly in 1961 and has served as Faithful Navigator.

He also took up flying again, partnering with his high school friend, Tom Holub, to buy an Aeronca Chief—a high-wing, two-seat monoplane--which he kept at his father’s farm, taking off and landing in a hilltop pasture. By now there were five children. One memorable afternoon in 1962, he took the oldest four children up for a spin. To keep four pairs of hands busy while he started the prop engine, he instructed the two older boys to hold the two younger kids’ hands together, which left them wondering why they had to pray! When the plane’s canvas cover needed replacement, however, the plane had to go. Still, through the years, David stayed current and interested in flying and planes, especially experimental aircraft.

David was active in the business community of Weimar and the surrounding area. He was a third-generation owner of Weimar Sheet Metal Works which had been family owned for 97 years when it closed in 2015. David was active in the Weimar Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president, and as a Weimar Development Foundation officer, and finally serving as Weimar’s mayor from 1974 to 1978. He was a strong believer in patronizing local business, and after opening a branch office in Eagle Lake to service the rice farmers in the area, who were good customers, rice, not potatoes, was standard fare at their dinner table.

As a member of the Weimar Lions Club, David served in all offices including be ing president twice. He was elected District Governor of District 2-S3 for 1971-72. He showed his dedication and commitment to the 2-S3 Eye Bank by serving as its 6th President, and by serving as Secretary and President of the Eye Bank Association of Texas. In 1979 he was recognized for his efforts by District 2-S3 with the Harry Reasonover award, the highest honor the district bestows on a Lion.

Starting in 1970, David worked with Texas Lions Camp to provide a summer experience for diabetic and disabled children by serving on, as well as chairing, the Camp Improvements Committee for many years. He was instrumental in developing a master plan for the camp, which was adopted in 1992 with Phases I and II being completed in May 2000. David was elected to the Camp’s executive board in 1994, and progressed through the chairs, and served as President 1999-2000. David was inducted into the Texas Lions Hall of Fame in the year 2000. He looked forward to the annual board meetings at the camp in Kerrville where he renewed his friendships with many of his fellow Past District Governors (PDGs). David was an honorary board member of the camp until his death.

As his family grew, all five of his children graduated from Weimar High School and earned college degrees. Two went on to receive master’s degrees. David was gratified to see two of his sons follow him to Notre Dame for engineering degrees. And through the years he and Elvera made regular trips to Notre Dame for football games and class reunions.

When grandchildren came along, David enjoyed taking them to the “Wendt Place” to feed the cattle he kept and doted on there. He and his wife spent many evenings on the hill at the farm tending a vegetable garden or simply watching the sunset.

David was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Tom Kahlich, and his sister, Colleen Kahlich Willrodt. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elvera, his five children--Arthur Kahlich (Holly) of York, SC, Paul Kahlich (Jana) of Houston, Frances Lancaster (Jim) of Dallas, Henry Kahlich (Marianne) of Houston, and Elizabeth Lauzon (Peter) of Houston—eleven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren.

The family held visitation Friday, Mar. 11 at the Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, followed by a rosary. The Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Mar. 12 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Weimar with Msgr. Dan Kahlich and Fr. Wayne Flagg officiating. Interment followed in St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Chris Kahlich, John S. Lancaster II, William Lancaster, James Willrodt, John Willrodt, Bill Willrodt, Alex Lauzon, and Ivan Muras.

Honorary pallbearers were David J. Kahlich, Carl Kahlich, Matthew Lancaster, Joseph Kahlich, Robert Lauzon, Allen Bellamy, James Polk, Lion Stephen Mabry, Lion PDG Gordy Richardson, Lion PID Joe Al Picone, Lion PDG Mark Anderson, and Lion PDG James Wheeler.

Memorials may be given to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, P.O. Box 36, Weimar, TX 78962, Friends of the Weimar Public Library, 1 Jackson Square, Weimar, TX 78962, or Texas Lions Camp, lionscamp.com, P.O. Box 290247, Kerrville, Texas 78027.

Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome.com