Edgar Alois Hummert

Edgar is the son of the late Ben L. and Anna (nee Brinkman) Hummert. Three brothers and one sister preceded him in death: Albert Hummert, Cletus Hummert, Lawrence Hummert and Adeline Luechtefeld. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Dora Jane (nee Analla) Hummert of Harlingen, Texas, and by five daughters: Janet (Luis) Garza of La Feria, Texas; Laura Jean (Dale) Miller of Mercedes, Texas; Joni (Robert) Radford of Harlingen, Texas; Julia K. Powell of Waco, Texas; and Jolene E. Pankonien of Riesel, Texas. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren who proudly called him “Pop”.

A World War II Veteran, Edgar served with the 806th Engineer Aviation Battalion as a heavy-equipment operator in the Pacific Theater of World War II, building runways in Saipan and Okinawa in preparation for an invasion of Japan. To recognize his service, Edgar's grandchildren honored him with a Memorial Plaque at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. He was a member of American Legion Henry Schmitz Post #683 in St. Libory, Illinois.

When he returned from the military, Edgar worked as a heavy equipment operator building highways in Illinois. He attended David Rankin Trade School in St. Louis, Missouri, to study air conditioning/heating. His interest in that field took him to Texas where he was employed for many years by Valley Weathermakers/Parce Engineering of Harlingen. Later employment opportunities took him to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, and then to San Antonio, Texas, where he worked for the San Antonio Real Property Maintenance, which was a consolidated maintenance unit for the Air Force bases and Army post in San Antonio. Upon retirement, Edgar and Dora returned to the Valley to be near their daughters and grandchildren.

Always ready to lend a hand and help others, Edgar will be remembered as a great leader, mentor, and friend. He loved to share his stories and words of wisdom with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As a heavy equipment operator, he donated his time to dig the basement for St. Pancratius Catholic Church in Fayetteville, Illinois. He was one of the founding members of the Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department and served as a Boy Scout leader in that community. When his daughters joined the Girl Scouts in Texas, he was an active volunteer in their activities. Edgar was a devout Catholic and in his younger days he was involved in many activities at St. Pancratius Catholic Church in Fayetteville, as well as at St. Anthony Catholic Church, in Harlingen.

To Dr. Jesus Rodriguez and the staff at Valley Baptist Family Practice, the Hummert family has been blessed beyond measure by your kindness, care, and support of our Dad.

Thank you to the staff at Valley View Senior Living for watching over Dad these last three years and to the staff at Retama for making him comfortable in his final days. A very special thanks to Jessica and Sylvia, Harbor Hospice of McAllen, for answering all our questions and tending to Dad’s special needs. So many prayers were answered for us, so we especially want to thank all who offered prayers for Dad and the family when we needed them most.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Anthony Catholic School, 1015 East Harrison, Harlingen, Texas.

Funeral Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church on December 10, 2021 at 10:00 AM. 1015 E Van Buren Harlingen TX 78550.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heavenlygracergv.com for the Hummert family.