Clara Amanda Zoch

Clara Amanda Zoch was born on January 7,1933 to Martin and Selma (Bigon) Miertschin in Lee County, Texas. She was baptized at Holy Cross Lutheran Church on January 15,1933. Clara’s mother made sure that she went to school even though it meant she walked five miles to get there or caught a ride on the milk truck if it was heading that way.

On March 30, 1947, Clara was confirmed in her faith at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda by Pastor Paul Eifert. Her confirmation verse was John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Clara worked hard all her life, starting early on the family farm helping with the daily chores. She especially rose to the challenge when her Papa got sick, learning how to drive the tractor, and working the fields. Eventually she moved to Houston, living with her sister while she worked at Star Engraving.

Clara met her future husband, Royce, at a church wedding. They were married November 5, 1955, at Zion Lutheran Church in La Grange, Texas. They lived and worked in Ft. Worth for two years. In the fall of 1957, they moved to Austin and joined St. Paul Lutheran Church. Clara and Royce were blessed with four children, Patricia, Caryn, Ronald, and Darryl.

Clara was a supportive wife, strong and loving mother, and a wonderful homemaker. She made sure her children were clean, properly dressed, and well-fed. Mom was an excellent cook, and the family enjoyed many wonderful meals together, often followed by a game of 42 or watching football.

Clara’s working career in Austin included office work at the Texas DPS (before children), and later at AISD cafeterias when the kids were older. In 1977, Clara started work at Sears and Roebuck in the accounting office. When she retired 20 years later in 1997, she was serving as the head cashier.

During Clara’s long and blessed life, she humbly and graciously served God through her family, her community, and her church. After retirement, Clara volunteered at Seton Northwest, giving of herself to help others. In her 69-year membership at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Clara served in the LWML/Dorcas group, the Youth Group, and the Altar Guild.

Clara so cherished the many relationships that grew from within her church family, and especially with the ladies of the Altar Guild that she worked with for 40 years. Clara loved her family, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The children were always lovingly greeted with a warm smile and hugs. They especially loved her noodles, and she so enjoyed giving them candy treats.

Clara passed away peacefully in the afternoon of July 21, 2026. Clara is preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Selma Miertschin; husband, Royce Zoch; daughter, Caryn Neumann; two granddaughters, Amanda Knox and Katherine Neumann; brother, Paul Miertschin; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Erna & Jimmy Klander, Lena & Marvin Fischer, and Ruth Lorenz; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Frank & Shirley Zoch.

Left to cherish Clara’s memory and legacy are daughter and son-in-law, Patricia & Ed Bullock of Kyle; son and daughter-in-law, Ron & Cyndy Zoch of La Grange; son and daughter-in-law Darryl & Becky Zoch of Evansville, Indiana; son-in-law, Fred Neumann; grandchildren Megan & Brett Lamont of Giddings, Brenden & Haley Bullock of Kyle, Trista Bullock & boyfriend, Tom Klenotic of Austin, and Jacob, Morgan, and Matthew Zoch, all of Evansville, IN; grandson-in-law Cory Knox of La Grange; step-grandchildren Kyle & Stephanie Hudson of Evansville and Emily & Krizell Mitchell of Lexington, Kentucky; brother-in-law Marvin Lorenz of Serbin; great-grandchildren Emma Knox of La Grange, Jett Lamont of Giddings, and Everett and Wesley Bullock of Kyle; step-great-grandchildren Kamdyn Hudson of Evansville, and Kynleigh and Karleigh Dunn of Lexington, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday evening, July 30, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas. The funeral service will be held Friday, July 31, 2026, at 10:00am at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3501 Red River Street, Austin, Texas followed with a light lunch gathering in the Fellowship Hall.

Thank you to our Orchard Park family in Kyle, for the wonderful care and support you provided, and for warmly making Clara feel at home.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff at Compassus Hospice-South Austin for their compassionate care and support, and especially to Vanessa Solano and Vanessa Clark, whose expertise and genuine kindness are beyond measure.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Altar Guild of St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3501 Red River Street, Austin, Texas 78705.