Anton Lucas Roeder was born, Friday, September 13, 1922, on the family farm, east of Shiner, Texas, in the Bunjes School Community. Tony was one of ten children born to Louis Matthew and Mary (Hucek) Roeder. He attended the Bunjes Rural School and St. Ludmila’s Academy in Shiner, graduating in 1938. From 1939 until 1942, Tony helped his Dad on the Roeder Family farm planting cotton, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, and string beans, and assisting in the care of livestock.
At the beginning of World War II, Tony joined the United States Army Air Force on October 29, 1942, at Foster Field, Victoria. After eighteen months of training at Foster Field’s advanced flight training school, Tony left for combat to the European Theater of Operation. He was a Parachute Rigger and Repairman with the 396th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group. He was involved in the battles and campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, Central Europe, and Air Offensive Europe. Tony received his Service Stripe, Overseas Service Bars, American Theater Campaign Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with 5 bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, and the AAF Victory Ribbon and achieved the rank of Corporal. After the War ended, which included eighteen months of combat, Tony received his honorable discharge on November 16, 1945.
After returning home from service, Tony joined his Father in partnership in the Lavaca County Butane Company and Roeder Home Appliance. He attended classes to become a licensed butane-propane dealer at the Texas Railroad Commission, LPG Division in Austin. While living in Shiner, Tony was a volunteer with the Shiner Fire Department, and an active member of the KJT, and The American Legion. Tony, along with his father, Louis, and his five brothers, became Charter members of the new Monsignor Netardus Council No. 3081, Knights of Columbus, in Shiner. It was a rare event for six brothers, who were all war veterans, to have joined as a group. With his first marriage, Tony had three daughters: Phyllis, Vicki and Toni.
With his present wife, Ann, he had two sons, Mark and Jeffery. During this time, the family was living in Pasadena, where Tony worked for Crown Central Petroleum Refinery for twenty years, until he retired. After retirement, he worked part-time at Furrows Building Materials for the next five years.
Tony was not one to sit still for very long. Growing up on the family farm, and learning to fix anything that was broken, Tony was always fixing, repairing, or working with his hands. After retiring the second time, Tony kept occupied with repairing their farm house in Shiner. But come the first weekend in November, nothing stopped Tony from prepping the family travel trailer and heading out I-10 west past San Antonio, to go deer hunting. It didn’t matter what the weather was like, Tony would be sitting quietly, patiently, for that perfect shot. That was his passion. Tony also loved to go fishing, whether at Rockport with friends, or at the tank at the family farm.
Surviving are his wife, Ann of Pasadena, sons Mark of Pasadena, and Jeffery (Gabrielle) of Gallatin, Tennessee, daughters Vicki Adams (Glenn) of Spring, Toni Roeder-Pizalate (Mike) of Victoria; Phyllis Mraz of Gonzales; eight grandchildren: Peyton, Chloe, Preston, Landon and Austin Roeder, Garrett and Sam Adams, and Zachary Mraz. Also surviving are sisters Lillian Wagner of Shiner and Pauline Mooney, of Lufkin, numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends Sunday, June 2, 2019 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Grand View Funeral Home, 8501 Spencer Hwy. Pasadena, Texas 77505. Visitation will also be held Monday, June 3, 2019 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Elim Church, 3200 Richey Rd., Houston, Texas 77017 with the funeral services following at 11:00 AM. Graveside services will be conducted 1:00 PM, Tuesday, June 4th, 2019 at Shiner Catholic Cemetery, 154 CR 348 Shiner, TX, where Military Honors will be performed. Prior to graveside services we are asking everyone to meet at the Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church parking lot, located at 306 S. Ave. F., Shiner, Texas at 12:30 PM the funeral procession will leave at 12:45 PM so that we can pay honor by proceeding to the graveside.
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