Harry Adolph Schacherl

Harry Adolph Schacherl, 90 passed away of natural causes on January 25, 2013 in Dallas, Texas. Harry was born near Moulton, Texas on December 27, 1922 and lived a long, happy and fruitful life. The quintessential “long, tall, Texan”, at six feet five inches he was a strong, easy going man who enjoyed music, dancing, dominos, bowling, the outdoor life and an occasional glass of chenin blanc. Harry always maintained a positive outlook on life and was quick to joke and laugh since he also possessed a great sense of humor. Harry grew up on various farms near Moulton, Flatonia and Shiner during the Great Depression and helped his parent’s with harvesting crops from local fields. The hardship of this era made his family a very close knit and loving group which continues on through their descendants today. As a young man of 20, Harry was drafted into the Army and traveled to Camp Haan near Riverside, California for basic training in the Mojave Desert. Sporting activities provided a respite from preparing for combat. Harry’s size and long arms enabled him to become a champion at boxing and table tennis tournaments. From January 10, 1943 to September 3, 1945, he served under Commanding General George S. Patton in the 547th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion which followed the route of earlier troops deployed in D-Day and the invasion of Europe. Traveling through France and central Europe as a transportation specialist, Harry was responsible for delivering supplies to the front line, then return to base with injured soldiers while avoiding the German Luftwaffe. During his military service Harry was promoted to Corporal and received several medals of commendation. After the Allies victory and on the long boat ride back to New York with other fortunate surviving servicemen, he won $1200 playing dice. This enabled him to buy his first car upon returning home to his family, now living in Flatonia, Texas. For the next two years he worked for the Texas Highway Department traveling the state building roads that would eventually become the Interstate Highway system we know today.

In 1948 he set off for bright lights of Austin and began working as a carpenter, a profession he would continue with for another 30 years. For much of his career, Harry worked as a foreman for Walter Carrington Homes and built hundreds of houses throughout central Austin. In the latter years of his business life, Harry and his partner, Joe Gorbeck, had their own company building custom homes in the Balcones and Lake Austin area. In 1949, he met the love of his life, Fae Annette Beaman. Harry and Fae were married on October 20, 1951 and enjoyed over 58 wonderful years together, most of which was spent in the Violet Crown area of Austin on Karen Avenue where they and their son Bob developed close, lifelong friendships with surrounding neighbors. Harry and Fae were members of the historic Saengerrunde Dance Hall and enthusiastically participated in dances and other social activities. They had an extraordinary wide circle of friends and family and initiated or joined in countless Christmas holidays, reunions and other joyful events, many of which were held at their farm near Giddings, Texas.

After retiring 1979, Harry devoted more of his attention to the farm, traveling regularly between Austin and Giddings to raise cattle, catfish and pigeons. He was also an avid hunter. Early on In 1962 Harry bagged a 35 point white tail buck which set a state record at the time. For many years he had a smokehouse behind the Karen Avenue house and everyone looked forward to jerky, sausage and other smoked meats. Additionally, Harry maintained numerous gardens both in Austin and Giddings supplying friends and family with an abundance of fresh, delicious vegetables all of which paired exceptionally well with the barbequed brisket and salt dill pickles he was famous for. Each Thanksgiving and Christmas family members looked forward to his sweet potato casserole. Throughout retirement, Harry was not one to keep still. He always had numerous projects in process at the farm including animal husbandry, field clearing, fence mending, road building, and the continual improvement of the first small dwelling at the farm affectionately known as “the cabin” which tripled in size over the years. Harry and Fae were never at a loss for friends and relatives volunteering to help with any project. Everyone was eager to share in their warmth and generosity while experiencing the peace, calm and tranquility the farm offered. As a result, three generations of Texans can boast they “grew up” at the farm due to their frequent visits. Harry and Fae’s son and daughter-in-law have promised them they will carry on this tradition.

Harry was preceded in death by his sister “baby girl”, sister Ida Schacherl, brother-in-law Don St. Wrba, mother Annie Mueck Schacherl, father Adolph Schacherl Sr., brother-in-law Edwin Kurtz, grandson Erich Wade Schacherl, wife Fae Beaman Schacherl, brother Adolph Schacherl Jr., nephew Carl St. Wrba and sister Ann Schacherl St. Wrba. Harry is survived by son Bob Schacherl and daughter-in-law Carol Wade Schacherl of Dallas, grandson David Schacherl of Austin, sister Gladys Schacherl Kurtz of Praha and brother Willie Schacherl and sister-in-law Jo Ledbetter Schacherl of Houston and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge Vickery Towers Assisted Living, Lexington Place Meadow Residential Care Home and Grace Hospice in Dallas for their exceptional care of Harry during the last few years of his life. No matter which facility he lived in, Harry was always deemed the staff’s favorite resident because of his humor, attitude, joy for life and jokingly always being “ready to go ten rounds”.

The family would like to invite everyone to join them for a Tribute to Harry on Friday, February 1, 2013 at Cook-Walden Funeral home on 6100 North Lamar Blvd. A Visitation will be held between five and seven o’clock in the evening with the Tribute to immediately follow in the Colonial Chapel.

The family would also like to invite everyone to the graveside service on Saturday, February 2, 2013 starting at half-past ten o’clock in the morning at the central mausoleum at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery on 14501 N-I35 in Pflugerville. Casual dress is preferred at both locations.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com