Paul Otto Voelkel
Paul Otto Voelkel, 84, passed away Dec. 22, 2023.
He was born March 18, 1939 to Marie (Brogger) and Arthur Paul Voelkel.
He was raised among his loving family in New Kinkler and later in Hallettsville, both in Lavaca County. He enjoyed a special lifelong friendship with his Brogger, Svetlik and Appelt family members, and never missed an Appelt Family Reunion.
He attended Sacred Heart School and Hallettsville High School graduating in 1958. Post graduation, he worked for J.M Dillinger Road Construction, where he traveled around Texas and built many of the highways we traverse today. He was always very proud of the roads he built, and would tell his family stories of his time in construction whenever we drove on one of his highways.
He went to work in 1959 for Goedecke’s Cotton Company in Hallettsville where he rekindled a romance with his future wife, Theresa Elizabeth Hemmi. The couple married at St. Mary’s in January 1961 and were dedicated to each other for nearly 63 years.
The couple celebrated the birth of their first child, Kevin Paul Voelkel, June 1, 1962.
The family moved to Rockdale in March 1965, when Paul joined a migration of Hallettsville friends to work for ALCOA. Their life in Rockdale was filled with many blessings and friends. There, the couple celebrated the birth of their second child, Kelly Arthur Voelkel on March 8, 1974. Paul helped start the Rockdale Knights of Columbus Council in 1977 and was named Knight of the Year in Rockdale in 1986.
Paul retired from ALCOA in 2002 and he and Theresa returned to Hallettsville in 2003. He continued to be active with the Knights of Colombus and was named Knight of the Year in 2006. He also worked at Hoffer’s Drive-in where he made many good friends.
In addition, he joined the Army National Guard on Aug. 29, 1961 and served in the Reserves till Aug. 28, 1967, during which time he received a Marksmanship Medal.
Paul was often found in his vegetable garden and loved to keep up his German heritage traditions of cooking, canning, hunting, and dancing. He loved going to the local lakes for boating, camping, and spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed traveling with Theresa, and they spent a lot of time in retirement exploring the world together. His favorite time in life was hunting with his son and grandsons on the family place in Bila Hora and listening to polka and waltz music. He was a dedicated Catholic, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
He loved sharing stories with anyone over a cold beer, or a Kentucky Tavern whiskey drink.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Theresa (Hemmi) Voelkel; sons, Kevin Paul Voelkel and wife, Cathy of New Braunfels and Kelly Arthur Voelkel of Houston, sister, Linda Kay Ward and husband, David of Austin, sister-in-law, Cathy Lou Voelkel of Cuero; grandchildren, Justin Paul Voelkel and wife, Katie; Stephen Voelkel and wife, Karen; Patrick Voelkel and wife, Kaitlyn, and Jacob Voelkel; great-grandchildren, Kolbie, Adelynn, Jackson Paul and Kohen Voelkel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father Alfred (Fritz) Holy, and brother James Ervin Voelkel.
A special heartfelt thanks to Dr. Morgan Heck, all the nurses and staff at Lavaca Medical Center, and all the caregivers, nurses, and staff at Schulenburg Regency Nursing Center for their compassionate care. In addition, as faith was so important to Paul, thank you to all of the priests and religious ministers who visited him.
Memorial donations may be made to Knights of Columbus Council #2433 Renovation Fund, P.O. Box 46, Hallettsville, Texas 77964 or Appelt’s Hill Gun Club, P.O. Box 228, Hallettsville, Texas 77964
Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Hallettsville on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 with visitation beginning at 1:30 p.m., Rosary at 2:30 p.m., and celebration of the Funeral Mass at 3 p.m.
Immediately following the Mass, all are invited to celebrate Paul’s life next door at the Sacred Heart Family Center with a Bar-B-Q meal being served.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig Belvill Funeral Home and Cremations in La Grange.
Family and friends may sign the online guest book at www.lagrangefunerals.com