Randel Henry (Randy) Fahnert

Randy was born 9/17/48 in San Antonio, TX, to Henry and Ellen Fahnert and was a post-WWII child of the fifties. He grew up on the Southeast side of San Antonio. Randy was “all boy” wearing cuffed blue jeans, white t-shirt, Converse shoes, and a buzz cut. He rode his bike, played Little League baseball, and stayed outside playing with friends until dark.

His love of anything that moves began when his Mom took him to see the trains at the Union Pacific train yard-every day-after taking his sister, Sandy, to school. In his lifetime, it was trains, bikes, soap box derby cars, Cushman scooters, Triumph and Harley motorcycles, dune buggies, boats, jet skis, model airplanes, VWs and muscle cars, and firetrucks. Every boy’s dream!

Randy played football and ran track in junior high and high school and graduated from Sam Houston High School in l967. He earned his associate’s degree from SAC later in life and wanted his bachelor’s but never found the time.

In 1968, Randy joined the Air Force Reserves and served for 16 years.

Randy and Cathy Irwin were married 7/18/70. They knew of each other in elementary school and started dating on and off in 1965. Randy said he remembered that I had white shoes and a blue checkered dress and played baseball with the boys. When he called me to ask me out in high school, I hung up on him 4 times. Randy: “Hi, Cathy, this is Randy Fahnert.” Me: “No, it’s not.” - hang up. Finally, a friend called and said it really is Randy Fahnert, so quit hanging up. I wondered why a cool guy like RF would call and ask dorky, shy me out. I guess he remembered what a good baseball player I was!

In 1972, Randy became a San Antonio firefighter thanks to the suggestion and encouragement of Larry Balcar and Mike Pullin - lifelong friends. It was a perfect fit. He loved being a fireman and helping people - a very hard job but rewarding. We always knew wherever we were, every person he met was going to hear that he was a fireman. It would be - ok, wait for it - yep, he got it into the conversation every time! So very much pride in his job. He retired in 2005 with the rank of Engineer. After 10 years at Boeing working for KD, he went back to the SAFD for 5 years in Applicant Processing as an investigator. This was another rewarding experience for him, working with new recruits. He was just sure each of them would love SAFD as much as he did. Randy also worked with his Dad doing roofing from the time he was 8 years old! If he wasn’t at the station, he was at his parents’ company. It was good that I worked there, too, so I could see him sometimes. I don’t know how we had a family life, but we did - and a really great, fun life!

In 1975, our son, Matthew, was born. What a joyous occasion for all of us. When Matt was only one, Randy would sit him in a tire in the garage, give him a toy wrench, and they would work on projects until 2:00 am. He was a great Dad, helping coach sports teams, working on school carnivals, building school playgrounds, fishing and hunting trips, and just doing anything he could for and with Matt and me. We traveled, had cattle on a small ranch with his brother, Mark; had a lakehouse with boats and jet skis; and just had fun together as a family and with friends. Randy was a huge presence in his granddaughters’ lives - “the girls”. It was always about “the girls”. The fact that they were so comfortable with him says more than the hundreds of stories we could tell. He knew them as individuals and loved and worried about each of them. We walked through a store recently, and Randy said, “Did you see those necklaces? I bet Harper and Quinn would really like those.” Then, “Look at those fluffy dresses. Looks like Juliet and Isabella’s style.” They were “always on his mind.”

No doubt, he will be missed.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ellen Fahnert; his in-laws, Jack and Eunice Irwin; and his brother-in-law, Gayland Wofford.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Cathy Irwin Fahnert; his son and daughter-in-law,Matthew and Celeste Fahnert; “The Girls”, Isabella, Juliet, Harper and Quinn Fahnert; brother, Mark Fahnert; sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Larry Stacy; brother and sister-in-law, Pat and Darlene Irwin; and many loved nieces, nephews, and many loving cousins.

Thank-you not only to the support of family and friends, but to the San Antonio Fire Department brotherhood, Chaplain J D Whitley, the Honor Guard, and many, many others.

Remember the good times and keep telling the stories!!! FUNERAL SERVICETHURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 20222:00 PMPORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL

Visitation will follow from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to https://texasburnsurvivors.org/