Funeral Mass for Lt Col Edward Robert (The Music Man) Szeman 80, of Harker Heights, will be 11:00 AM Friday, August 21, 2020, at St. Paul’s Chong Hasang Catholic Church, 1000 FM 2410, in Harker Heights. Burial with military honors will follow at 1:00 PM at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.
Lt Col Szeman was born August 21, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the first generation, U.S. born, only son of naturalized Hungarian immigrants Edward and Magdalene Szeman (nee Ponyik). He had three sisters, Helen, Magdalene and Rita now Sister Bernard. He attended Benedictine High School in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from the University of Dayton where he followed his love and majored in Music Education. He also served as Drum Major for Dayton Flyer Marching Band and completed his Army pre-commissioning program in the ROTC.
Lt Col Szeman was commissioned June 1961 in the regular Army as an Armor Officer with multiple commands at the company and battalion level including combat command of “Task Force Szeman” in the Republic of Vietnam (1969-1970) during his second volunteer tour. Completing various additional training and staff assignments around the United States and overseas including Okinawa, the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria, he retired in 1982 at Ft. Hood, Texas with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He was active in many ministries throughout the years, most recently with St. Paul’s Chong Hasang; choir, eucharistic minister, cursillo, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Men’s Group.
His Master’s Degree in Counseling/Psychology from the American Technological University Counseling was put to good use, teaching countless young elementary musicians in the KISD system as well as Grace Christian and St. Joseph’s Catholic Schools in Killeen, Texas. Subsequently, he taught private music lessons and contributed as a member of several local performing groups to include the Harker Heights Band, 4th & Main, and the Cloverlea Quartet.
Edward was taken to the Lord from his home in Harker Heights, Texas on August 2, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Penny Szeman, and Sister Bernard residing at the home of the Sisters of the Devine Redeemer in Elizabethtown, PA. He is the father of Edward (Mickey), (Robert) Gerry and Lisa; grandfather of Magdalene, Edward, Deborah, Leigh Anne, Michael and Joseph Szeman and great grandfather of Grady Siler and Edward Finn Szeman.
Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 PM Wednesday, August 12, 2020, at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. Additionally, Recitation of the Rosary, Eulogy and Vigil will be 6:00-8:00 PM Thursday, August 20, 2020, at St. Paul’s Chong Hasang Catholic Church in Harker Heights.
In lieu of flowers, your donation to the Wounded Warriors Project https://www.facebook.com/donate/1252642331747515/102196412972933707/ would be greatly appreciated.
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