Thomas "Tommy" H. Felderhoff

Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas “Tommy” Felderhoff, of Muenster, age 89 of Muenster, is set for 10:00 AM, Friday, August 24, 2018 with Father Ken Robinson officiating. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Rosary will be held at 5:00 PM, Thursday, August 23, 2018 followed by the Vigil at 6:00 PM, Thursday, August 23, 2018. All services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Scott Funeral Home in Muenster. Mr. Felderhoff passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2018. Thomas Hubert Felderhoff was born in Muenster, Texas on November 20, 1928. He was a second generation American born of the late Hubert and Marie Dangelmayr Felderhoff. He was the fifth child of a family of six children. He had three sisters: Louise Felderhoff Knauf, Marie (Mickey) Felderhoff Spaeth and Della Rose Felderhoff Voth. He and his two brothers, Norbert and August Felderhoff, formed the Felderhoff Brothers Farm and Ranch. They worked together all their adult lives. Two siblings remain, Mickey and August. Tom was best friends with Herbie Miller, brother of his future wife, Barbara. Their relationship blossomed over the years, starting with shared ice cream on the school bus. After a brief break in their relationship, Tom was tearfully working on a tractor and contemplating asking Barbara to dance later that night before giving up on her. Earlier that same day, Barbara had decided “If that Tom Felderhoff would ask her one more time to dance, she would say yes.” Their love story reignited when she said yes later that evening at the VFW hall. They have been best friends and lovers for the last 67 years. Tom married Barbara Jean Miller, daughter of Theo and Rose Herr Miller on March 27, 1951. The wedding mass was held in the old parish hall as Sacred Heart Church was building the present church. Thomas and Barbara both graduated from Sacred Heart High school, Tom in 1946. In 1945, the Sacred Heart High School football team was formed and Tom played on the team, with old Army helmets serving as football helmets. Barbara, then a freshman, was one of the first cheerleaders. Tom was inducted into the army on April 23,1951. He served in the military for two years, one year in the 101st Airborne in Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky and one year with 7822 Engineering in Munich, Germany. Son, Thomas H. Felderhoff Jr., was born on September 26, 1952 in Muenster, Texas, while Tom was stationed in Germany. In 1953, Thomas, Barbara and Tom, Jr. moved to a farm southwest of Myra, Texas; a site requested by Barbara because of the scenic contours and recreation possibilities along the big Elm Creek that crossed the property bottom land. This remains the family homestead to this day. It was at this homestead they welcomed their other children: Margie in 1954, Chris in 1957, Bill in 1959, Rosemary in 1961, and Susie in 1963. A tragic car accident in 1956 claimed the life of premature Patrick; they also lost Philip as the result of a premature birth in 1965. Tom was a devout Catholic, husband and father. He loved his wife, Barbara and told her so almost every day of his married life and always reminded his children about what a good momma they had! All 6 living children were educated at Sacred Heart School through the twelfth grade and he was a life member of the Knights of Columbus. Tom loved to create cute catchy nicknames for each of his 6 Children, 20 Grandchildren & 37 Great Grandchildren. His husky size became less scary & more huggable to a small child after hearing his unique endearment that meant, “I love you!” Tom & Barbara enjoyed a couples’ group with Alvin & Gracie Fuhrmann, Marty & Gloria Becker and Henry & Millie Yosten. There were many a night with cards & fists slapping the table, boisterous victory cries and toasts to the Sheephead god! In his youth he enjoyed building and flying model airplanes. He & other friends enjoyed friendly competition piloting those flying machines with control ropes from the ground! Lake Texoma outings with extended family were some of the family’s favorites where everyone developed a love for water sports and fishing! He never cared for sandy beach vacations, but he dearly loved the Rocky Mountains! He managed a fall hunting trip to Colorado most years hunting for trophies from deer, bear and elk. For Tom and Barbara’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, he treated Barbara to a Canadian Rocky Resort Ranch where the two of them hunted for his prized elk head trophy. That elk head had a place of honor looming floor to ceiling over Barbara’s recliner in their Den for the past 17 years! He liked to joke about the back of the elk being in the adjacent bedroom—which caused many a grand or great grandchild to run into the bedroom looking for it! He also liked to tell everyone that it cost $5.00 to look at it, $10.00 to touch it & mom would add $25 to dust it! To his children, Tom was the rugged, John Wayne type, loving all things western. He enjoyed shooting sports—even making his own rifles with old friend, Joe DuBiel and hunting buddy, Joe Siegmund.. He made a living out of farming and cattle ranching complete with regular horseback round-ups to work the cattle. True to his John Wayne character and being of sound Christian, Catholic background he always taught his children to be honest and forthright in business and always speak the truth! That’s not to say he wasn’t a shrewd businessman, always bartering for a bigger, better deal! It took months and sometimes years to negotiate the sale of a vehicle—Barbara just learned to go with the flow.... Pastor Bill Black, now deceased, always relayed a story which occurred after a fire of his family owned grocery store in Myra, Texas several years ago. In those days many people bought groceries by a credit system and periodically payed their balance when cash was more available in a farming economy. He stated that Tom was the only person to come forward and pay the balance he knew he owed the Black family after all the records were destroyed in the fire! An excellent lifelong Poker Player, he was the epitome of Kenny Roger’s Song, “The Gambler” always knowing when to hold’em or when to fold’em. In the words of that song: “Every gambler knows that the secret to survivin’ is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep. ‘Cause every hand’s a winner, and every hand’s a loser, and the best thing you can hope for is to die in your sleep!” Which he did peacefully on August 21, 2018! Tom is survived by his wife, Barbara of Muenster; sons: Thomas (Rebecca) H. Felderhoff, Jr., Chris (Sandra) Felderhoff of College Station; Billy (Katie) Felderhoff of Muenster; daughters: Margie (Edd) York of Muenster; Rose (Scott) Evans of Linsday, and Suzie (Andy) Bezner of Lindsay; Emily (Brian) Hoffman of Valley View, Danny (Brandi) Felderhoff of Muenster, Diana (Josh) Gorrell of Hewitt, Matthew (Cheryl) York of Austin, Christopher (Lauren) York of San Antonio, Alexander York of Detroit, MI, Lydia (Collin) Broglie of Katy, Kelly (Brian) Oten of Apex, NC, Rachel (Dexter) Jordan of Magnolia, Terry (Rhonda) Felderhoff of Manhattan, KS, Keri Crawford of Muenster, Brad (McKinnon) Felderhoff of Muenster, Chelsea (Dave) Wilson of Muenster, Jenna (Jeff) Walterscheid of Muenster, Bill Felderhoff, Jr. of Muenster, Jaclynn (Eric) Fisher of Muenster, Darell and wife (Kody) Henscheid of Houston, Michelle Henscheid of Dallas, Jessica (Jonathan) Mannas of Lubbock, Nicholas and fiancé Briley (Fleitman) Bezner of Dallas; thirty-seven great grandchildren; brother, August Felderhoff of Muenster; and sister, Mickey Spaeth of Gainesville. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Norbert Felderhoff and sisters, Louise Knauf and Della Rosa Voth. The family requests memorials be made to Heart to Heart Hospice (7240 Chase Oaks Blvd., Plano, TX 75025), ABBA Women's Center (214 N. Taylor Street, Gainesville, TX 76240) or Sacred Heart Church (212 East 6th Street, Muenster, TX 76252).

Thomas "Tommy" H. Felderhoff

November 20, 1928 - August 21, 2018