Helen Ernestine Weidner

Helen grew up speaking German, only learning English once she started school. She met Charlie Weidner at her cousins wedding, and they were married on February 1, 1947, in Cibolo. After their marriage, Helen left behind the modern conveniences of her childhood home—electricity and plumbing—and moved to the Weidner Ranch on FM 311, along the banks of the Guadalupe River. There, she and Charlie lived with his parents in a German Hill Country stone home built in 1876, a style much admired and replicated today. Together, they raised two daughters and found joy in watching their grandchildren grow up on the ranch.

Through floods, droughts, and everything in between, they carried on the ranching tradition of the Weidner family, which dated back to the 1860s. Their perseverance even inspired the song “Prayin’ for Rain” by Matt Kirk and the Gueyfarers, which was dedicated to them. Beginning in the 1950s, they opened their ranch as a family-oriented campground, sharing the beauty of the Guadalupe River with countless families over the years. Even after Charlie’s passing, when operations were scaled back, Helen looked forward to greeting campers who returned each summer.

Helen enjoyed genealogy and was dedicated to preserving the history of the German settlers of Spring Branch, helping to maintain several historic cemeteries and advocating for the placement of historical markers. She treasured long conversations on her front porch with campers, friends, and family; hunting for finds at garage sales; collecting unique rocks on her daily walks; baking and sharing homemade bread and Lepp cookies; and sewing. For over 20 years, Helen served as the official National Weather Service Cooperative Observer for the Spring Branch 2SE station, faithfully recording and reporting daily precipitation.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charlie Weidner; her brother, Hilmer Zimmermann; her son-in-law, Eddie Poindexter; and her great-grandson, Boland Bragg.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Naomi Poindexter of Spring Branch, and Lori Weidner (Ronnie Haecker) of Pleasanton; her brother, Harold (Rosalie) Zimmermann; her sister-in-law, Shirley Zimmermann; her grandchildren, Bryce (Candace) Schultze, Brindan (Missy) Schultze, Montana (Justin) Bragg, and Coker (Lauren) Moeller; and her great-grandchildren, Zachary, Wyatt, Paisley, Isabella, Christian, Betty Lou, Wylie, Charlie, Charlotte, Lucy, and Colbi.