Oct. 27, 1928 - Sept. 18, 2025
Julia (Staha) Dach, 96, of Schulenburg passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at 6:34 am at Regency Nursing Home in Schulenburg, where she had resided for seven years.
Julia was born on Oct. 27, 1928, to Joe E. and Julia (Kutac) Staha in St. John. She grew up and attended school in St. John. She married her husband of 60 years, Anton Dach Sr., on Oct. 11, 1948. Together they had four sons and three daughters within 15 years. They lived in High Hill and through the years they attended St Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill and St. Rose of Lima Church in Schulenburg.
Julia worked beside her devoted husband Anton on the farm for many years, raising their children as they harvested cotton, corn and maize and raised cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and guineas. Her family writes: “Working on the farm required us all to be hard workers but Mom and Dad always made time for family fun and prayers. Mom always expected our best effort at whatever we were doing and made sure we followed the Lord’s way.” Later she worked at Frank’s Restaurant, making its delicious homemade pies, and then worked at Utex for 21 years in the quality control department.
Julia faithfully watched the Dallas Cowboys. She would always know how the season was going, and what time the game was going to be. She also always kept up with the weather forecast and would always look forward to the changing seasons.
Julia loved her husband, children (7), grandchildren (15), great-grandchildren (36) and great-great-grandchildren (2) and always welcomed their visits. They had a special place in her heart, and she offered many prayers for her family. Memories were made throughout the years at their home in High Hill followed by frequent visits to her final home in Regency. Thankfully Julia was a great communicator on the iPhone, calling and texting her family, looking up the weather forecast and enjoying photo updates via the phone, especially during the Covid years where the only method of communication was visiting her through her window at Regency.
When Julia left her life here on earth to take her heavenly trip, that she waited for her whole life, she took many memories of her family. Her family says: “Now we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our Dad/ Popo and is visiting with all her family and friends that have gone before her. If she could share any last words with all of us, they would be ‘I love you all very much and take care of one another.’ We will miss her for the loving and caring Mom & Nanny she was. We thank her for all her prayers throughout the years and of course for the most delicious, sweet rice that she was so famous for. She made it for every family gathering and special occasion. Many have tried to duplicate it but most have not been able to get it exactly as good as hers … it must have been her extra special love and prayers she added in.”
Julia is survived by her daughters, Delores Antosh and husband Ronny, Irene Oncken, and Betty Vecera Tucker and husband Phillip; sons, Anton Dach Jr. and wife Ernestine, Daniel Dach and wife Carolyn, Ben Dach and wife Carol, and Donnie Dach and wife Nancy; 15 grandchildren; 36 greatgrandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill. The family received friends beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the rosary recited at 10:30 a.m. by two of her great-granddaughters, Martha and Mary Dach. The Mass followed and Rev. Jasper Liggio was the celebrant. Altar servers were four of her great-grandsons: Andrew, John, Michael and Timothy Dach. The offertory gifts were brought up by her granddaughters. Burial followed in the High Hill Catholic Cemetery where she was laid to rest next to her husband. The six pallbearers were her grandsons – John Oncken Jr., A.J. Dach III, B.J. Dach, Shandy Oncken, Kevin Dach and Cody Vecera. Honorary pallbearers were her seven granddaughters Misty Pilat, Christy Brosch, Megan Tuttle, Jaime Brocker, Chendra Lee, Holly Treptow, Heather Kocurek, and her two grandsons, Trent Ohnheiser and Dustin Ohnheiser. Lectors were Kevin Dach and Christy Brosch. A.J. Dach III gave the eulogy to honor her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Anton Dach Sr.; three brothers; two sisters; son-in-law, John Oncken Sr.; and grandsonin-law, Ronnie Pfuhl.