Annie Fietsam

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  • ANNIE FIETSAM
    ANNIE FIETSAM
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Annie Carolyn (Kainer) FIetsam died on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, following a short illness. She was 84 years old.

Annie was born at home near High Hill on Jan. 12, 1936. Her parents were Joseph and Anna (Klesel) Kainer. She was the youngest of seven siblings. The family spoke German at home. Her father, who was also the organist and choir director at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill, instilled in Annie a lifelong love of music and singing.

Annie met John Joseph Fietsam on a blind date at Freyburg Hall. They married on Oct. 2, 1955 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill. The young couple began their careers in the Houston area. They lived in Pasadena, where their first two children, Debora and John Jr., were born.

In 1964, John and Annie moved back to Fayette County and settled in Schulenburg. The couple started a business that would later become Tex Propane Company, which today serves thousands of customers in Fayette and surrounding counties. Two more children arrived, Diana and James.

John and Annie became pillars of the Schulenburg community. They were members of St. Rose Catholic Church. John served on the Schulenburg City Council for many years. Annie served a variety of roles for the St. Rose Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of America, St. Rose School, Bishop Forest High School and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Later in life, Annie enjoyed occasional bus trips to the casinos in Louisiana. She was also active in the local senior citizens group, Navidad Valley Community Connections. She made many more friends through these activities.

Annie fell ill a few weeks before she died. She spent her final days visiting with family. She passed away peacefully on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 19, with her son James by her side.

Annie was blessed with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her infectious laughter will be missed by everyone who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Anna Kainer; husband John J. Fietsam; five siblings including two sisters who became Catholic nuns, Adelheid Kainer (later known as Sister Romanus) Leo Kainer, Celine Kainer (later known as Sister Sarah), Charles Kainer and Marie (Kainer) Kelly; and one son John Fietsam Jr.

Annie is survived by one brother, Joe Kainer Jr. and wife Maggie of Houston; her children, Debbie Behlen and husband Kenneth, Diana Thomas and husband Edward, and James Fietsam and wife Wendy, all of Schulenburg; five grandchildren, Andy Behlen and wife Janessa of La Grange, Adam Behlen of Los Angeles, Calif., Baylie Dillenbeck and husband Wade of Houston, Kelsie Strauss and husband Cole of Boerne, and Jaxon Fietsam of Schulenburg; and two great-grandchildren, John and Sam Cox of La Grange.

The family entrusted services to Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home of Schulenburg. A funeral mass took place Saturday, Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. at St. Rose Catholic Church in Schulenburg. Entombment followed in the St. Rose Catholic Cemetery mausoleum.