Wilbert J. “Bill” Klesel, age 94 years, 10 months, died peacefully Saturday morning, March 5, 2022.
Bill was born in Schulenburg on May 8, 1927, to Charles S. and Marie (Heller) Klesel. His early school years started at St. Rose School in Schulenburg and he also attended Schulenburg High School, graduating in 1945. He was a proud member of the Shorthorn Band being a drummer under Carl Morene. Shortly after graduation, he was inducted into the Armed Forces on Aug. 8, 1945 and was assigned to the Army Medical Corps. He was assigned to the 89th Station Hospital in Taejon, Korea, where he worked as a dental assistant in a dental office. He returned home after serving for one year in the Occupational Forces in Korea. He received his honorable discharge on Jan. 17, 1947, and received the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
His next venture was to enroll at The University of Texas in Austin. Unsure of what he wanted to do next, Bill and his best friend, George Watzlavick, decided they would go to mortuary school and only stayed for one semester in Austin before heading to Landig Mortuary School in Houston. Bill found his career and service calling as he successfully completed Landig Mortuary College in Houston, graduating ln 1948. Bill began his 70-year career in the funeral home business living in Rosenberg and working for Triska Funeral Home where he was hired full-time after completing an apprenticeship there.
On Monday, May 8, 1950, Bill married Dolores “Dolly” Bohuslav Klesel in a traditional all-day wedding celebration at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ammannsville. They celebrated 65 years of marriage prior to Dolly’s death in May 2015. After the birth of their first child Donna, Bill and Dolly relocated to Schulenburg, where Bill began working at Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home in 1954 for Robert “Bob” Kallus. Over time, they became a strong team. In 1976, he was joined by his older son, Mark, who graduated from Commonwealth College in Houston and joined the company. The Klesel family purchased the business in 1978, following the death of Mr. Kallus, keeping the original name of the business. Bill and Dolly’s second son, Bryan, joined the business in 1990 after graduating from The Institute of Funeral Service in Houston. When Bill and Dolly retired in 1995, Mark and Bryan then became co-owners of Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home. Bill was always very proud of the fact that he had third generation of funeral directors/morticians in his family, as Bryan’s son, Clayton, also joined the profession. Bill and Dolly were both avid Schulenburg Shorthorn fans and would be
Bill and Dolly were both avid Schulenburg Shorthorn fans and would be seen at all local sporting events, regardless of the sport. They frequently were seen at morning coffee with friends and afternoon visits to the fitness center during the week. Weekends were filled with watching University of Texas football games or attending the UT baseball games where they held season tickets for many years. The rest of their time was spent attending activities related to family especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren events. Bill and Dolly were avid campers and treasured time with their “camping friends,” travelling all over the country. Bill’s hobbies were many depending upon the time of the year and he and Dolly were blessed to have spent 20 years of retirement together. He loved to tinker in the country at his property known to all as “Circle 33’’ and had quite a collection of Ford Mustangs. He was an avid painter/artist and on a less serious note in his earlier years, would create the outdoor Christmas scenes to win the annual Christmas Lighting Contest.
Bill’s lifetime of service is exemplified by his active involvement in the community of Schulenburg. God, family and his country were most important to him. During his time in Schulenburg, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Rose Church, Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, past president of the Schulenburg Horse & Dairy Show (now known as the Schulenburg Festival Association), past president of the Schulenburg Industrial Foundation, a former City Councilman, board member of Youens Hospital in Weimar and a lifetime member of The University of Texas Alumni Association. He was honored with 50 years of service to the Texas Funeral Directors Association, former grand marshal of the Schulenburg Festival parade and Schulenburg Citizen of the Year.
The celebration of his life was held on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Schulenburg, followed by interment at St. Rose Catholic Cemetery. Visitation began at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Knights of Columbus rosary led by Kenneth Berger at 10 a.m. and Mass celebrated by Fr. Scott Hill at 10:30 a.m. The procession to the cemetery was led by the Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department. Following the prayer service at the cemetery, the Fire Department and American Legion Post conducted their special services. The funeral service was conducted by funeral director and grandson, Clayton Klesel, who was assisted by grandsons Cullen Klesel, Cameron Klesel and Eric Hermis. The pallbearers were Marty Steffek, Doug Stewart, Luke Freytag, Colt Freytag, Ryan Hermis, Coy Romine, A.D. Szilagyi and Mitch Bailey.
Survivors include a daughter, Donna Hermis and husband Al of Houston; two sons, Mark Klesel and wife Debe of Schulenburg, and Bryan Klesel and wife Terese of Schulenburg; eight grandchildren, Eric Hermis and wife Kimberly of Katy, Dana Szilagyi and husband A.D. of Cypress, Casey Steffek and husband Marty of Hallettsville, Cristin Romine and husband Coy of Weimar, Cullen Klesel and wife Candis of Flatonia, Cate Bailey and husband Mitch of Schulenburg, Clayton Klesel and wife Sarah of Schertz, and Cameron Klesel of Las Cruces, N.M.; and five step-grandchildren, Mikki Arnold of Cambridge, Denmark, Hannah Arnold of Lufkin, Alexis Arnold of Lufkin, Dylan Steffek of Hallettsville, and Kelsey and Cody Fowlkes of Hallettsville. Two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are also survivors: Willie Bohuslav Jr and wife Joyce of Austin; and Gilbert Bohuslav and wife Veronica of Lake Jackson. Bill was blessed with 12 great-grandchildren surviving him: Luke Freytag of Corpus Christi, Colt Freytag of Flatonia, Haley Hermis of Lubbock, Ryan Hennis of Katy, Henry, James and Elizabeth Szilagyi of Cypress, Addison Romine of Weimar, Jaxson and Ellie Klesel of Flatonia, and Corbett and Eva Klesel of Schertz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dolly, and brother, Clarence.
Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Bill and Dolly Klesel Scholarship Fund, 701 S. Main, Schulenburg, TX 78956 or to a charity of one’s choice.