Lucille M. Stremmel

Lucille’s birth took place in her home and the delivery was performed by her paternal grandmother. Lucille was a “middle” child having an older brother and sister – Leroy and Louise and a younger sister and brother – Joan and Charles.

For first grade, Lucille went to Spring Creek country school which was a two-room schoolhouse. The school was heated with a wood burning stove and had no fans or air conditioning. For the 3-4 mile trip to and from school, Lucille and her older sister, Louise, rode a horse named “Dollie”. During the day, they would tie Dollie to a tree, where she would stay until school was over at the end of the day.

When she was eight, her family moved to the southside of Alice, Texas to a small seven acre farm. Shortly thereafter, they moved to a 60 acre farm on the northside of Alice where the farm produced mostly grain and hay products for cattle. Lucille helped out on the farm by feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, cutting wood, chopping weeds out of the rows of cotton and picking cotton. When not at school or doing chores, she played many games using her imagination that involved climbing on the barn, climbing trees, making bows and arrows and sling shots. She recalled being a pretty good marksman back then.

She went to William Adams High School (also called Alice High School). During her Junior and Senior years, she would go to school during the mornings and, in the afternoons, work as a switchboard operator for local and long distance calls. She graduated in 1952 in the top 10 of her class. After graduation, she moved to San Antonio, went to business college and continued working for Southwestern Bell. She met her husband, Alfred (Al) Stremmel, Jr., in March 1953 and they were married in October of 1953. She left Southwestern Bell at the birth of their first child and after having three more children, she went back to work at the telephone company for two years. Then she went to Kelly A.F.B. as a requisitions officer and continued working there until her retirement in April 1993.

While the children were young, Lucille, Al and the kids made many trips to the coast and Canyon Lake to enjoy camping and fishing. There were also many house parties during this period – most being held at Lucille and Al’s. Lucille and the other ladies from the neighborhood would prepare food. Since there was no air conditioning, the windows would be open with the turntable playing their favorite singers’ tunes and there would be dancing on the patio.

It wasn’t all partying though since Lucille was very firm with the kids about doing their chores and homework (the latter would often be done at the kitchen table while she was cooking supper). And don’t bother to ask Lucille how to spell a word because she would just tell you to go look it up in the dictionary!

Lucille and Al were fun-loving and very outgoing. They were lifetime members of the Martinez Social Club enjoying polka, western and swing dancing. For awhile, they even took part in square dancing being members of the Bexar Squares. Lucille was a member of Hermann Sons Vineta Lodge and Beethoven Damenchor. She was also a lifetime member of the Good Sam Club and was a current member of the Canyon Sams Chapter. Lucille attended and was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

Lucille was loving, selfless and caring – all of which are great qualities to have in a friend (of which she had many) as well as in a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. No one could ask for a better mom. She loved getting together with her friends at the weekly card game and at Hermann Sons and Beethoven. She enjoyed meeting new people on her travels and continued to keep up with her various acquaintances by phone or writing newsy items in her Christmas cards. She was always interested in the lives of her family and friends.

Lucille had many hobbies. She enjoyed reading, travel, sewing and dancing. Lucille’s daughter, Janet, was especially glad Lucille could sew since she would always come through on the difficult to sew Edison High School Pep and Drill Squad uniforms. After retirement, Lucille and Al made it a goal to travel as much as possible – reaching 47 of the 50 states, Mexico and Canada. Lucille’s favorite trip was to Alaska but she also enjoyed Colorado.

Lucille was a much loved grandmother – spending time with Matt, Holly and Catherine (who she insisted she would call “Cathy”). The grandkids were included on many of her and Al’s vacations where the grandkids had experiences they will never forget

- Camping on the beach in Galveston

- Visiting the Davis Mountains and going to the MacDonald Observatory

- Going to Palo Duro Canyon to enjoy the Texas Outdoor Musical and

scramble for tadpoles in the stream

- Camping at Canyon Lake, Chain-O-Lakes and Yogi Bear Park where they hiked, swam, went to the petting zoo and in the evenings, sat on logs and watched cartoons while eating popcorn

She was great in the kitchen, teaching Holly and Cathy to cook, with recipes passed on being the ones she served at Thanksgiving so those family feasts could endure even in her absence. She was also a tremendous baker – always ready to bring something fresh baked to her co-workers, her kids’ schools or a potlock at the campouts and lodge meetings. Her numerous Christmas cookie recipes are now spread out amongst her children and grandchildren. We used to wonder how she could bake SO MANY different kinds of cookies while still working and taking care of the family.

Lucille and Al were always “on the go” attending as many San Antonio festivals and events they could fit in between everything else. Annual events with the kids and grandkids were Hermann’s Happiness in the spring, Texas Folklife Festival in the summer and Texas Renaissance Festival in the fall.

She was often heard saying “Just do the best you can, that’s all you can do” which is how she tried to live her life.

We will all miss her but have many great memories of our time with her.

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Lucille is preceded in death by her parents, brothers – Leroy and Charles, sister – Louise, and husband - Al (to whom she was married over 62 years). She is survived by her four children – Sherry Hefner, Janet Catanach, Alfred Stremmel III and Andrew Stremmel; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild – Matthew Hefner (son Charles), Holly Catanach and Catherine Catanach. She is also survived by her sister Joan St. Laurent and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hermann Sons Retirement Home, in care of Hermann Sons Grand Lodge, P.O. Box 1941, San Antonio Texas 78297.