Ernest Richard Huegele Jr.

He was born on September 17, 1933 to Ernest Richard Huegele, Sr. and Anna Olga (Haverlah) Huegele at Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, TX. He was baptized in Immanuel Lutheran Church where his father has a cornerstone with his name on it for building. Ernest was dedicated to Christ and never missed Sunday School or Church unless he was ill, which was rare.

Ernest grew up in Alice, TX on a Farm as the eldest of 5 sons. He grew up working hard, no telephone, and raised cattle, growing food and driving the tractor for the crops. Ernest was in the Civil Service for 33 years at Kelly AFB in San Antonio and served in the US Air Force during the Korean War for a total of 38 years of service.

After graduating from Alice High School, he was ready to leave the farm and see the world so he obtained his parents’ permission to let him join the Air Force since he was only 12 days from turning 18. He did his basic training at Lackland AFB in 1951, then he was sent to Chanute and Scott AFB in Illinois to to study to be a radio mechanic and an instrument repairman on aircraft. In 1953 he went to Robins AFB in Georgia to become a technician for navigation and communication instruments for the B-25, C-45, and the C-47. He was honorably discharged in 1955 from Laughlin AFB in Del Rio and moved to Austin to go to the University of Texas for one semester. He needed to work so he moved to Dallas and worked in aeroservice installing electrical equipment for private company aircraft. He was then hired by GSI in Dallas which was the subsidiary of the newly formed Texas Instruments. He was sent to Houma, LA to work on a ship and got so seasick during a storm that he decided to go back to college, but this time to Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, TX. During that time, Ernest obtained his private student pilot’s license. After 2 years at TLC he moved back to Austin and started his engineering studies at UT and started his own business in 1960 named Top Value TV Service and Ernie’s Radio and TV Repair Service.

He met Sharon Huegele, nee Feuerbacher in Austin about this time. He watched Sharon play a volleyball game at a St. Martin’s Lutheran Church event. Sharon dropped a personal check so that Ernest would have her information to be able to ask her for a date. They were married on April 29, 1961, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church and were married for 60 years. He then worked for White Instrument Labs until 1966.

Their first home was on Red River St, Caswell Ave, and then on Choquette Dr, where they welcomed their first daughter Cara in 1963 and Kimbra in 1965. In 1966, Ernest moved to San Antonio to take a job at Kelly AFB as a Civil Servant in the Air Force. Sharon and the two girls followed after he found them a home in San Antonio. In 1969, Sharon became severely ill after giving birth to their 3rd daughter, Kristen. It was at this time, Ernest took on more responsibilities for the children and home. He was proficient at cooking, cleaning, building dollhouse furniture, and even sewing and altering his grandchildren’s clothing in later years. In 1971, they welcomed their 4th daughter, Clarissa. He was known as “daddy” by all 4.

He drove the family on long three-week trips to visit every contiguous US state first in a tent, then later in a camper. His family had a house on Lake Corpus Christi that we visited with our cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Ernest retired from the System Management Division in 1999 as a Equipment Specialist for the C-5 flight controls and was an aircraft crash investigator for the C-5. With retirement came the ability to spend more time with the younger grandchildren.

Ernest was “green” before it was a thing. He taught his daughters not to waste anything. He also instilled in them a very strong work ethic and did not tolerate lying. He rarely sat down and after work he would repair a tv, a car, the house, work in the yard or tinker at his work bench. In later years he enjoyed gardening, sailing on his boat, and traveling. He and Sharon traveled the world and took several cruises that took them to all 7 continents and so many places in between.

What his family is most proud of is that he was a faithful servant to His Lord, Jesus Christ whom he loved. He served as usher in the church and sang in the choir. He also made sure his daughters were all confirmed in the Lutheran Church and went to church and Sunday school. He was a volunteer for Meals On Wheels and a member of Agape. He donated also to US Veterans of War groups. Ernest was a faithful companion to Sharon and they were always together. Before they had caregivers he cared for her until it was no longer possible.

He is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Sharon Feuerbacher Huegele, and two brothers, Marvin and Martin Huegele.

He is survived by his daughters and 9 grandchildren, Cara (Steve) and Hayden and Tanner Mierl, Kimbra (Craig) and Devin and Kayla Culpepper, Kristen (Reid) and Zachary, Julia, and Cameron Baker, and Clarissa Carpenter and Kaleigh (Omar) Garcia and Garrett Carpenter. He is also survived by his 2 brothers Herbert and Walter Huegele, Diane Bennett (Sharon’s sister) and many nieces and nephews and their children.

Ernest will be reunited with his love, Sharon Huegele at Fort Sam Houston with full military honors and small ceremony with Pastor Chris Kennedy of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and his family in attendance.

We thank the wonderful caregivers at Brookdale NW in Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers we ask that you donate to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and School in San Antonio, TX.