OBITUARY

Clarence Wesley Bahlmann

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Clarence Wesley Bahlmann, Sr., 85, slipped from his earthly bonds into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020.

He was born on March 25, 1935 in the old Bahlmann farmhouse, just above Cottonwood Creek, 5 miles outside of Cost, Texas, a son of the late Wesley Friedrich Bahlmann and Olga Agnes (Eckermann) Bahlmann (Industry, TX).

Clarence was the grandchild of Russian, German, and Wendish settlers to Texas. His childhood was filled with the sounds, flavors and customs of the Texas Germans. He enjoyed the rich heritage of the German Texas Methodists and belonged to Monthalia United Methodist Church, which he dearly loved.

As a boy he attended Bebe school, where he was required to learn English to attend. He spent many hot Texas days with his brother Calvin pulling a cotton sack in the fields, but he dreamed of working on the planes that soared above them in the Texas skies. Clarence’s dream was fulfilled in 1952, when he graduated from Gonzales High School at 17.

He moved to San Antonio and secured a lifetime career at Kelly Air Field ranging from Apprentice Aircraft Mechanic to Fuel Accessories Section Chief. His time off was spent working on race cars with his best friend, James Willmann at the home of James’ cousin, Kurt Philippus. Just across the street from the Philippus home lived a lovely young woman, who was destined to be the love of Clarence’s life.

Clarence met and married Miss Kathleen Ann Sievers--lovingly referred to as Kay--on October 29, 1954. The two were married for nearly 66 years. Their first 40 years of marriage, they resided in San Antonio. The family spent their weekends on the Cost farm working the land and hunting. Clarence loved to take Kay and his three children, Yvonne, Nancy and Clarence Jr. on vacation camping in the Colorado Rockies, and sharing his love of the outdoors, and fishing—everyone knew that with Daddy they were going to “really catch fish.”

After retiring to the farm in 1990 Clarence and Kay wove their lives into their beloved church community at Monthalia, where Clarence served as a Trustee. He willingly gave his time as a skilled handyman repairing his church, the old buildings of the Pioneer Village, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas’ J.B. Well’s home and the numerous homes of the older people in his community. In the winter of 2018 Clarence invited the Texas German Dialect Project to the Monthalia area where he helped to host an opportunity for researchers from the University of Texas at Austin to locate community members, who still spoke Texas German. At the time Clarence was the oldest living community member still fluent in Texas German. 

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Kathleen “Kay” Ann Sievers Bahlmann; his three children, Yvonne Ann Weakley (James) of San Antonio, Nancy Jean Bahlmann (Brian Fowler) of San Antonio, and Clarence Wesley Bahlmann, Jr. (Kathy Anne) of Cost, brother and sister-in-law; Calvin Cornell Bahlmann (Patricia) of Shiner, grandchildren; Jason Herschel Weakley of San Antonio, Marc Wendel Hansler (Lindsey) of San Antonio, Nicole Alicia Weakley of San Antonio, Jeffrey Alexander Bahlmann (Alaethia) of Cost, Texas, Victoria Rose Werlein (Kevin) of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Emily Christiane Bahlmann (Elizabeth) of Severn, Maryland, and Hannah Elizabeth Bahlmann of Stephenville, Texas, great grandchildren; Manuel Cantu IV, David Anthony Cantu, Aiden Matthew Weakley, Kylee Rae Werlein, Michael Andrew Werlein, Kennedy Rose Werlein, Elijah Alexander Bahlmann, Eleanor Claire Bahlmann, Isabelle Mckayla Hansler and Asher Christian Hansler.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Olga Bahlmann of Cost, Texas.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Sept. 22, 2020 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 in the Monthalia United Methodist Church with Pastor Paul Smith officiating.  Interment will follow in Monthalia Methodist Cemetery.  Pallbearers are Jason Weakley, Marc Hansler, Jeffrey Bahlmann, Manuel Cantu IV, George Fink, Tom Lindemann, and David Fullilove. Honorary Pallbearers are Kevin Werlein, Jonathon Tesch, David Cantu, and Allan Fink. Memorials may be made to the Monthalia United Methodist Church.

Due to current CDC, State and local mandates, protective measures regarding social distancing, limited attendance capacity, and use of personal protective masks will be required for the visitation, church service and graveside burial rite.  Those remotely symptomatic of COVID-19 are politely asked not to attend. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.        

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