Leo Jares

Leo Jares of the Muldoon/Freyburg area passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 20. He was 88 years and 2 days old.

He was born Nov. 18, 1932 at his homeplace in the Muldoon/Freyburg area and was the son of Edmund and Emilie Jares. He grew up at his homeplace and went to Pin Oak School and then to Flatonia High School where he graduated in 1952. It was after high school that he enlisted in the Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for a few years. He was then given the opportunity to go overseas to Baumholder, Germany, and he gladly accepted those orders. He told numerous stories of his 3-day passes that he was given on weekends about his travels to various countries near his post in Germany. He brought back many collectibles, such as an accordion, violins, cuckoo clocks and cameras. Even though he never played a musical instrument, he had an interest in them. His main interest, as many people know, was taking pictures. His cameras gave him lots of joy, and he never missed taking pictures. Most every place he went, he had his camera with him. He took pictures until the end of his 87th year.

After returning home from the Army, he married JoAnn Wagner of Schulenburg on July 11, 1959. He lived and worked in the Schulenburg area working cattle. He also worked in the Nixon/Smiley area with cattle and turkeys. He and JoAnn began a family and had two daughters and one son. His job then began as a poultry inspector in the early ‘60s, and he worked and transferred with his family to live in Cuero, Waco, Austin and Fredericksburg. It was working in Fredericksburg where he became ill from the poultry inspection. He moved his family to his homeplace at Muldoon. Once he moved back home to the country, he raised a garden with all kinds of vegetables and kept his family fed, along with giving to neighbors and friends. He also sold at the La Grange and Schulenburg farmers markets. He raised cattle, hogs, ducks and guineas. His other hobby that kept him busy was woodworking. He made porch swings, picture frames, birdhouses, squirrel feeders, cedar chests, baby cradles, and even his gun cabinet. Also, in his spare time, he planted and grafted pecan trees, and he picked many a pecan. He then became involved in selling house insurance with RVOS where he met many new friends. He also was a member of SPJST and then became an agent to sell life insurance for Lodge 8 in Weimar. As an insurance agent, he and JoAnn met many people where he could use his “gift to gab.” He never met a stranger.

He and JoAnn travelled to various places in Texas and surrounding states. Their travels also included a cruise and a trip to Vancouver, Canada where he took many beautiful pictures. Shortly after he lost his wife in 2017, he moved to College Place in Schulenburg. He was known by all there as a jokester. It was there he lived through a pandemic. He then became ill and passed away peacefully with family by his side on Nov. 20.

He was a faithful member of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church at Swiss Alp and served on church council.

He is survived by his daughter, Becky Jares of Cleburne; sister-in-law, Diana Ulbig and husband Joe of Weimar; special family friends Judy and Dempsey Silva of Cleburne, Ryan and Grant Libby family, Trey and Destiny Silva family, Erin and Ryan Robbins family, all of Burleson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter Patty, son Leonard, brother Alton Jares and wife Dorothy, and two infant sisters.

Visitation was held on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 at United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Swiss Alp at 11 a..m prior to the 1 p.m. memorial service. Interment with full military honors followed in the Schulenburg City Cemetery. Services were live-streamed on Facebook through the Swiss Alp United Evangelical Lutheran Church website.

The family requests donations be made to Swiss Alp United Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hospice Brazos Valley, Swiss Alp Lutheran Heritage Foundation, or a charity of one’s choice.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home in Schulenburg.