Eugene John Eschmann Jr.

Eugene John Eschmann, Jr.

June 16, 1919 - December 25, 2014

Eugene John Eschmann Jr. took flight from Houston, at the age of 95 years old, to join his beloved wife Pearl, his mother Consuelo, father Eugene, brothers Arnold and Karl, and sister Frances on Christmas evening, December 25, 2014. He was surrounded by his loving son and daughter at the time of his departure. No greater peace and joy has he now.

Gene Eschmann was born a Swiss National on June 16, 1919, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico while his father was on a job assignment there. He arrived into the United States, when his father (a Swiss citizen) and mother (a Mexican citizen), decided to reestablish their home in Houston, Texas. Always a high achiever, he graduated from Jefferson Davis High School and attended the University of Houston concentrating in the field of Business Administration. When World War II began, Gene joined the U.S. Army where he served in the 89th Infantry Division. He served both as a foot soldier and in General Headquarters working in the Intelligence area. His division participated in the Rhine crossing. He shared many proud moments of his service as well as many of the horrors of war. We are very proud of our Father’s service to this great nation and realize the sacrifices that he, and so many other service members, experienced during World War II and every war before and since. At the end of WWII, he was stationed for a while in Edinburgh, Scotland where he met his beloved wife, Pearl, in a dance hall. They were married on April 17, 1946 and lived together in Vienna, Austria for a short time. They returned to the United States in 1946 and established their home in Houston. Daddy loved Houston with a passion and never entertained the thought of living anywhere else. Houston was home. During his early working career, he was proud to work as a Marketing & Sales Analyst for the Ford Motor Company. Later he would enjoy a long term working relationship with Kerr Steamship Company as a Booking Agent. His most loved profession, however, was home building. He took great joy and pride in building exquisite, structurally sound homes that reflected the individual personalities of each family he served. It was one of his many passions in life. Additionally, he enjoyed dancing, piano playing, gardening, drawing, cooking ... anything creative. Another one of his passions in life was people. Gene loved people in every sense of the word. At any given moment, one would find him smiling, laughing and talking with anyone and everyone he met. Every person was a potential friend to him. Socializing with people brought him great joy. He had the unique ability to make each person he met feel special.

Gene Eschmann was first a loving and devoted husband, father and brother. Together, Pearl and Gene raised a son and daughter in the way they knew best - with lots of love, acceptance and guidance. He cherished his wife, Pearl, with a profound true love and marriage that lasted 67 short years. As a father, he was exceptional in every way. He took the time to teach his children acceptance of others, joy for life and hope eternal that tomorrow would be a better day. He was an extraordinary man. He is missed by all that knew him. He is loved by family and friends he leaves behind.

Gene is survived by his son Eugene Eschmann III and former wife Jane Eschmann, his daughter Stephanie Oehrlein, his sister Rosemary Ryan and her husband Gerald Ryan together with their children Kathleen Norberg, Denise Burton and husband Bob, Judd Ryan and wife Megan, Sean Ryan, Brendan Ryan, Coleman Ryan and Colin Ryan, and his sister-in-law Inge Eschmann and her children Karl John Eschmann and wife Charlotte, and Ronnie Eschmann, his cousin-in-law Olive Arnold and her children Gary Arnold and Susie Arnold in Scotland, along with all of their respective children and grandchildren.

The family of Eugene Eschmann Jr. wishes to thank the doctors and nurses of West Houston Medical Center (General and Emergency Room staff), the Atrium Hospital, and The Consierge Rehabilitation Center for the skilled and loving care they extended to our Dad during his various stays and during his time of flight.

Eugene J. Eschmann Jr. has his wings now and he has taken flight into the loving arms of our Father.

On Thursday, January 15, 2015, there will be a Visitation/Memorial Service from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. with the service to begin at 7:00 p.m. at Earthman Southwest Chapel, 12555 S. Kirkwood, Stafford, TX 77477.

Please join us in celebration of the life of this wonderful husband, father, brother and military man.