Odell Clarence Buchhorn

Odell was a dedicated son, brother, husband, loving father and grandfather, and a friend to everyone he met. He was deeply respected and widely admired for his strength, warmth, humor, and steady presence. Odell had a way of making people feel at ease whether through a good story, a helping hand, or a perfectly timed joke. He had a profound impact on the lives of those who had the pleasure of knowing him, never meeting a stranger, and seemed to find someone he knew every place he went.

Odell was a devout Lutheran, and his faith was the framework of his life. He attended church regularly and lived his beliefs through hard work, humility, and kindness. He was the first child born of German parents Carl and Ruby Buchhorn of the Walburg/Georgetown area and grew up on their family farm. He graduated from Georgetown High School May 29, 1959, then served in the U.S. Army. He returned home and married the love of his life, Iva Dean Kirkland, beginning a marriage of 63 years, filled with devotion, laughter, and unwavering partnership. Together, they built a life grounded in faith, family, and deep love.

Odell and Iva moved to San Antonio where he started working as a salesman, later owning his own business, with Iva by his side every step of the way. They had two children, Becky and Scott. The family moved to Boerne in 1982, where he built a strong community, made lifelong friends, and left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was known as the person in the room that would volunteer to help fix, build, tinker, or improve something, and was never afraid of getting his hands dirty.

He found joy in life’s simple pleasures: homemade sausage (a cherished family tradition he proudly passed down that still continues), fried catfish (one of his favorite meals), playing the lottery, gardening, and time outdoors, and most of all golf. Odell loved the game—especially after moving to Delaware Springs in Burnet—playing nearly every day with friends and proudly collecting multiple trophies and holes-in-one along the way at courses across the United States and Canada. His dedication to golf was legendary, much to Iva’s continued playful frustration, as she would have preferred him home a little sooner. Still, their teasing was part of the joy they shared.

Odell enjoyed a lot of activities throughout his lifetime, including basketball, bowling, softball, hunting, fishing, and vacationing with friends and family, and approached life with an easy sense of humor and curiosity. Alongside Iva, he preferred the open road to the sky. They took only a couple of flights in their lifetime, choosing instead to drive wherever life took them. Together, they traveled across the country even as far as Alaska visiting family, exploring back roads, and taking in the beauty of the United States one mile at a time. A camera was always close at hand capturing landscapes, animals, small towns, and memories they treasured for years. Odell embraced every stage of life with enthusiasm, finding joy not just in the destination, but in the journey itself.

Later in life, Odell developed a love for rhymes, often writing verses filled with wit, faith, and reflections on family and history.

In his spirit, a few lines he might have enjoyed:

If heaven’s got fairways, he’s teeing off today,

Claiming the wind helped the ball find its way.

Another hole-in-one? He’ll swear it’s true,

And if you doubt it—well, he’s got a witness or two.

The past year was especially difficult following the loss of his beloved Iva. Today, we find comfort in knowing Odell is reunited with her—together again, side by side, celebrating a long, beautiful life filled with love, laughter, and faith. He is survived by his children Becky (Tom) Pettyjohn, Scott Buchhorn; his grandchildren Amanda Pettyjohn, Bryce (Jessica) Pettyjohn; siblings Marilyn Thoene, Larry (Lorin) Buchhorn, and numerous other family and life-long friends. His legacy will continue through the family and friends who loved him dearly and will carry his memory forward always.

The memorial service for Odell was held on February 20, 2026 at 1:30 pm at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet.