Earl Schwenke

Earl Schwenke, 70, of Brenham, husband of Sandra Kay Hartman Schwenke, passed away December 2, 2010 in Houston. Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg. Pastor Robert Sorenson will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.The family will receive friends and relatives Saturday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Earl was born August 2, 1940 in the New Wehdem Community of Austin County to Elmer and Verlin Mattiza Schwenke. He was baptized September 29, 1940 in St. James Lutheran Church of New Wehdem and confirmed there on April 11, 1954. On June 16, 1963, he was married to Sandra Kay Hartman at St. John Lutheran Church in Bellville. Earl began his career with Germania Insurance in 1964 until his retirement in 2003. He enjoyed farming and playing dominoes, and was always happy to cook stews and barbecue for his family and friends. His greatest pride and joy was spending time with his grandchildren, Slade Mason and Kaiden Lee Schwenke. Earl and his family were members of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg. Survivors include his wife, Sandra Schwenke of Brenham; sons and daughters-in-law Glenn Earl and Mary Schwenke of Cypress, and Terrell Wade Schwenke of San Marcos; grandchildren Slade and Kaiden Schwenke; sisters and brothers-in-law Dorothy and Otto Krause of Kenney and Virgia Mae and Allan Wienecke of Bellville. Preceding him in death were his grandparents, his parents, Verlin and Elmer Schwenke, sister-in-law Nancy Hartman, and brother-in-law Craig Hendricks. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. 979836-4564. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.