Erwin Henry Teggeman

Erwin Henry Teggeman, 93, passed away peacefully at Will-O-Bell Nursing Home in Bartlett, Texas on January 30, 2015. He was born in New Bern, TX August 1, 1921 to Eric Paul Teggeman, Sr. and Hilda (Tiemann) Teggeman. Erwin married Dorothy Mae (Schier) Teggeman on July 30, 1947. To this union was born four children.

Erwin grew up near Thrall, Texas. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1939 to help pay for his college education at Sam Houston State Teacher’s College. Once the Guard was activated, he served in the 36th Division of the US Army during WWII, taking part in the African invasion and was among the first US troops to set foot on the European continent as part of the Salerno invasion in Italy. He was captured and was a POW for 19 months before escaping. He remained in the National Guard as a tank commander, including the activation in 1961 for the Cuban missile crisis. He served as Captain of the Taylor National Guard, retiring in the early 1970’s.

He was also a businessman and a respected church / community leader. He was constantly active in work and volunteer efforts. Following the war, he opened a grocery store in Thrall and was also the Lone Star Beer distributor for Williamson County for 52 years. He loved time on his ranch (because the cows could not talk back). He believed in giving back to his community. He was a District Governor for Lions International, an ardent supporter of the Lions Crippled Children’s Camp, a recipient of the Lamb service award for Boy Scouts of America. He was active in his church, first at St. John’s Lutheran in Thrall and later at St. Paul Lutheran in Taylor. He served as chairman of the Taylor Industrial Foundation and the John’s Community Hospital Board of Directors. He was active in politics at the local, state and national levels. He also enjoyed spending time with family and his face would light-up around small children.

Preceding him in death were his parents, sister Lorene Sorenson and grandson Timothy Umiker.

He is survived by Mae, his wife of 67 years, and four children, Gayle (Kenneth) Collins, Sandy Umiker, Greg (Ruth), and Griffin (Brenda), plus special family member Denise Richter. He is also survived by sister Elmeda Campbell, brother Eric Teggeman, Jr, nine grandchildren, Shelley (Kevin) Giesecke, Tracy Collins, Kevin Collins, Nathan Umiker, Thomas, Leanne, Lindsey, Steven and Travis Teggeman and seven great grandchildren, Emily, Nicholas and Chloe Giesecke, Ethan Pichini, Tyler and Ryan Umiker and Alana Teggeman.

Visitation will 3:00-5:00 p.m., Sunday, February 1, 2015 at Providence Funeral Home. Celebration of Life Services will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 2, 2015 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Taylor. Burial to follow at the Taylor City Cemetery.