Tim Tesch

July 6, 1961 - December 10, 2019

Tim Tesch, age 58 of Gatesville, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, surrounded by loved ones.

Tim was born on July 6, 1961, in Hallettsville, Texas, to Walter Tesch and Patricia Pavlicek Tesch. His family moved to Gonzales where he attended Gonzales schools. In high school he played tight end for the Gonzales Apaches while also playing cornet in the Gonzales High School band. He graduated from Gonzales High School in 1979. Tim lost his father at a young age and, by the time he had finished high school, he was determined to make it through college and pursue a career in law.

He went on to attend Southwest Texas State University while working three jobs to help pay expenses. Despite studying and working, he still managed to follow that old adage, “There's a time and place for everything. And that's college.” He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Following graduation from Texas State, he moved to Houston and attended the University of Houston Law Center. While working to complete his law degree, Tim took a fateful trip to Austin where he stumbled into a hard-headed woman who would become the love of his life – well, after law and football. Taking a “Hail Mary” chance, he married Cathy Floyd Tesch, of Gatesville, Texas, on February 24, 1986. Then, he graduated University of Houston Law Center in May 1987 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.

In November 1987, he passed the Texas Bar Exam and became a licensed attorney in the State of Texas, approved to practice law as Attorney and Counselor at Law in all courts of the State of Texas.

His first job as an attorney was in public service as an assistant city attorney for the Municipal Court of Austin (night court -- with an interesting array of characters). Tim's first big break came when he found employment with the law firm of Harris and Harris in Austin, specializing in workers' compensation. This position provided intuitive and creative challenges with occasional episodes of exciting entertainment in workers' compensation cases. He eventually worked his way up to partner in the firm. His love of the law and his dedication to its fair and honest practice led to one of the ”titles” he treasured most of all, “Affidavit Quality” which meant that if Tim made you a promise, you could count on him to keep his word.

In 1993, he opened his own law office in Austin, The Law Offices of Tim Tesch. He specialized in civil cases, primarily insurance and elder law. In 1999, Tim was dealt a devastating blow to his health with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

But Tim has always been known to be hard-headed and stubborn. He decided to fight back, refusing to let the disease define or control him. So despite the disappointing prognosis and the failure of many experimental MS drugs, he took action. He changed professions for a few years, delving into ranching with his wife's family outside Gatesville. Eventually he branched out to manage his own ranching operations.

After a few years and a devastating drought, he dusted himself off and headed back into law. He opened The Law Offices of Tim Tesch in Gatesville. He passionately devoted all of his time and energy to his law practice. He grew to know, help, and even form friendships with many clients in his new community.

He is preceded in death by his father, Walter Tesch of Gonzales. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Cathy Floyd Tesch; son, Timothy Neal Tesch Jr. of Dallas; his mother Patricia Pavlicek Tesch Bahlmann and stepfather Calvin of Shiner; brother, Randy Tesch of Shiner; brother, Sandy Tesch and wife, Candy of Victoria; brother, Jonathan Tesch and wife Jenna of Yoakum; sister, Joy Lekander and husband, Craig of Shiner; and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Tim’s Life will be held at GG Steak and Spirits in Gonzales on Jan. 11, 2020 at 1 p.m. A meal will be provided.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials to be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate.