Roy Crenwelge passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 28th, 2018. Roy was born August 5, 1930, on a farm in Gillespie County (near Fredericksburg, TX) to Alvin and Thekla (Barsch) Crenwelge. He was baptized at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church as an infant in Fredericksburg, and he was confirmed into the Lutheran faith in the German Catechism. He was a descendent of the early German Pioneers who settled the Texas Hill Country in the mid-1800's who immigrated from Germany and had a French connection. The name Crenwelge was derived from a French name which when translated meant spice farmer or spice merchant.
Roy attended Wrede School in Gillespie County until the 8th grade, and he graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1949. While in high school, he was active in the Future Farmers of America, where he attended numerous Livestock Shows, exhibiting lambs and poultry and winning the Lone Star Farmer Award. After high school, Roy attended Tarleton University in Stephenville, Texas.
Roy joined the Texas National Guard in Fredericksburg which trained together with New Braunfels National Guard, where he later met Kenneth Fiedler, who offered him a job as a journeyman plumber in New Braunfels working for Richards and Krueger (R&K) Lumber Yard. Upon R&K’s closing, Roy worked a couple of years in San Antonio.
In 1967, after Roy obtained his Master Plumbing license he started his own business, Crenwelge Plumbing Service. He was proud to have built and operated his own shop in New Braunfels until his retirement in 2015.
On December 8th, 1956, Roy married Moyra Reiland at St. Paul Lutheran Church by Reverend Arthur Holm. Their marriage lasted 61 years until his passing. Roy and Moyra were blessed to have three sons, Jerry, Randall, and Karl.
Roy was a member of the NB Evening Lions Club, the Comal County Fair Association, the NB Chamber of Commerce, the Hermann Sons, and St. Paul Lutheran Church. As a business leader of the community, he supported many local organizations through company sponsorships. He especially enjoyed watching the teams he sponsored for the New Braunfels Little League at the Landa Park Lions Baseball Fields and attending the New Braunfels Unicorn Football games.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, visiting relatives, and especially spending time with his four grandchildren. He loved going back to his hometown of Fredericksburg to show his family where he grew up and the wildflowers during the spring. He would often visit the Wrede School and commented to his grandchildren on the early years having to walk to school barefoot during the warm spring months.
Roy Crenwelge is survived by his wife Moyra; two sons, Randall of Greenbelt, MD and Karl (Guille) of New Braunfels; four grandchildren: Marie (Zachary) Tilkens of Riverdale Park, MD; Rev FR. Brian Crenwelge of Charleston, WV; and Marissa and Christian Crenwelge of New Braunfels; and one great grandson, Perry James Tilkens of Riverdale Park, MD. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Linda Reiland, and niece Lisa (Stephen) Lochridge of Hamilton, MS.
Roy was preceded in death by his sister Evelyn, brother Alton, his parents, his son Jerry, numerous cousins, brothers-in-law Wilfred Reiland of New Braunfels and Lloyd Reiland of Hamilton, MS; nephew, David Reiland of Hamilton, MS; mother-in-law, Helen (Behrendt) Reiland and father-in-Law Herbert Reiland.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 31 from 3 pm to 6 pm, at Zoeller Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Monday, April 2nd at Zoeller Funeral Home. Following the service, interment will be held at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park.
The Crenwelge family thanks Hope Hospice, and all of his caregivers who graciously offered their care and support.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hope Hospice, the New Braunfels Evening Lions Club, or a charity of your choice.
