Alfred Joseph Michalczak

Alfred Joseph Michalczak, gentleman rancher, acclaimed steel guitarist and a dedicated first-responder to the citizens of his beloved San Antonio, passed away on August 15, 2025, at his San Antonio home, in the company of family.

Al was 78. With unwavering courage, he had battled progressive supranuclear palsy in recent years and succumbed to complications of the disease.

Although his accolades as a proud son of South Texas were many, Al will best be remembered by family and friends as a devoted husband and a caring and warmhearted patriarch to the generations now gathered to celebrate his life. His love for his three children, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren was boundless. His strength of character stands as an enduring gift, an inextinguishable testament to his love for family.

Al was born in San Antonio on September 6, 1946, to George and Gladys Michalczak. Along with two siblings -- older sisters Janice and Georgia -- the Michalczak family numbered five.

In 1964, he graduated from Holy Cross High School, where he played basketball, baseball and played trombone. Then, for the only time in his life, Al left San Antonio – although he didn’t go far. He enrolled at St. Edward’s University in Austin. Four years later, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a double major in education.

He returned to San Antonio to enroll in the city’s police academy. That led to career employment with the San Antonio Fire Department. Rising to the rank of lieutenant, he retired in 2001 after 33 years of service. Even after his retirement, he took time to help promote the San Antonio Fire Museum, which opened in 2013.

Al’s adult life took shape soon after college. In April of 1970, he married the former Terri Carter and two children followed: Fred in 1971 and Amy in 1974.

A second career in country music also took root. While in college, Al had joined a group called the Country Drifters. That led to a three-year stint with the Metheny Brothers, a Western swing band that would go on to record in Nashville in the 1970s.

In 1971, Al joined the Countrymen, a dance-hall band that over the next 50 years would add much to the preservation and enrichment of classic country music in the San Antonio area. The band, whose classic country offerings were enlivened by Al’s distinctive work on steel guitar, became a fixture at the Martinez Social Club on the city’s east side, a venue dating back to 1912.

With Al playing steel guitar and occasionally bass guitar, the Countrymen proved a perfect match for the families and older fans of country music who made up the Martinez clientele. Al even served 13 years as president of the Social Club board.

Al’s son, Fred Michalcak, joined the Countrymen as drummer in 1986, breathing new life into the band. Retirements and health issues finally prompted Al to retire in 2021 after a half-century of live performances.

Al’s life never ran short of other pursuits. He teamed with Bobby Flores, a well-known regional recording artist, to form Yellow Rose Records in 2002. Al doubled as producer on several of the label’s recordings. He was a member and an officer for the Hermann Sons Lodge in Helotes. He loved to hunt and play poker with friends.

All who knew him considered him a fair man, generous to a fault, always there to help.

He was also a cattleman with property in Hondo and Pearsall. Even down to his final months, he loved to tend to his herd and welcome the hunters who came in search of a rewarding deer lease. One day, alone at his Hondo ranch, he was badly gored by a bull and managed to climb in his truck and drive himself to the hospital.

Family blessings continued when, in 1989, he married the former Susie Reno, also of San Antonio. The following year the couple welcomed a son, Andrew. With Al’s support, Susie founded Saving Grace Dog Rescue of San Antonio, a non-profit group dedicated to finding “forever homes” for abandoned and stray dogs.

Al Michalczak was preceded in death by his parents, George and Gladys Michalczak, and a sister, Janice Toepperwein.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Yvonne “Susie” Michalczak of San Antonio; a sister, Georgia Edmondson Boyer of Bulverde, Texas; three children, Alfred “Fred” Michalczak and wife Cheryl of San Antonio; Amy Carter and husband Jonathan of Stafford, Va.; and Andrew Michalczak of San Antonio; six grandchildren, Shawn Herber and wife Sybil; Zachary Herber, Sheldon Herber, Alison, Katelynn and Matthew Carter; also eight great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Crest Hospice Care and to Crest’s two exceptionally diligent and caring employees, Marcos and Lorraine, as well as caregivers Donna Wilhelms and Gina Rodriguez.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Cross High School of San Antonio and Cure PSP.

A Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m., on Monday, August 25, at Porter Loring Mortuary West.

Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, August 26, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, with committal to follow.