Alfred Schwettmann

Alfred William “Bill” Schwettmann went home to his Lord and Savior on August 5, 2018. Alfred was born to Albert Schwettmann and Clara Bockhorn Schwettmann in the Pleasant Hill community on March 6, 1925. Alfred was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church on May 12, 1925 and later confirmed there on April 2,1939.

In high school, Alfred was a proud member of the FFA, he graduated from Brenham High School in May of 1943. Following his graduation, Alfred was drafted into the United States Army Air Corps where he served as a side gunner flying in B-29 Bombers and was promoted to corporal before his honorable discharge in 1946. He promptly returned to Washington County to begin his lifelong career in agriculture and agribusiness.

After returning home from his service, Alfred met his future wife and the love of his life, Dorothy Sommerfeld. Their courtship lasted five years before they were married in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1954 by Rev. Theo Streng. In 1959, they welcomed their first child, Duane; their daughter, Cheryl, was born two years later.

Shortly after beginning his lifelong career in the feed business, Alfred and Dorothy moved to Navasota where Alfred opened his first feed store, Gulf Coast Feed Center, which he owned and operated for the next decade. After relocating his business to Brenham for a short time, Alfred returned to Navasota to manage the Brazos Valley Feed Co-Op until his retirement. Alfred would remain proud of his accomplishments as a businessman for the rest of his life.

Throughout their life together, Alfred and Dorothy traveled whenever and wherever they could, especially when Europe was the destination. Church picnics, country music dinners, and restaurants where they could enjoy a good hamburger were also favorite destinations for them. Every holiday, birthday, and Sunday dinner took place around Alfred and Dorothy’s table. During such occasions, Alfred was known for telling stories about family, especially his grandpa Billy Bockhorn, who served as Washington County Constable. Stories from his days in the service were also a family favorite. He truly lived for his family and frequently referred to his time with his grandchildren as “the greatest years of his life.”

Upon retirement, raising cattle became his full-time hobby and passion. Alfred and Dorothy steadfastly cultivated their farm together on Mustang Road in Brenham and maintained a very active lifestyle late into life. One could often find Alfred shredding pastures, working cattle, and fixing whatever implement happened to need fixing at the moment; Dorothy would regularly be manicuring her prized lawn, waiting for Alfred to return for a dinnertime meal and a long nap. Even during his last months spent in the nursing home, Alfred did not slow down much. He enjoyed “working” very hard alongside the nursing staff and bringing as much humor to their day as they brought to his. His many titles included; “boss man”, “chief” and “pops”. He was very fond of his many loving care takers at Brenham Nursing and Rehab especially Sybil, Ruth, Maribelle, Samantha, Joe, Tori, and Ashley along with many others.

He is survived by his beloved wife and lifelong companion of 64 years, Dorothy; Son and Daughter-in-law Duane and Gail Schwettmann; Daughter, Cheryl Beckermann; Grandchildren, Tiffany Galendez (Shawn), Wayne Beckermann (Catherine Zachry), and Alyssa Beckermann (Angel Lopez); Great-Grandchildren, Rhett Burk, Juila Espino, Ty Espino, Ava Galendez; Brother, Luther Schwettmann along with numerous nieces and nephews and his faithful companion, Susie.

He is preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law ,Willie and Lillie Sommerfeld; sister and brother-in-law, Esther and C.J. Dodson; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Alton and Bernice Sommerfield and sister-in-law, Margaret Schwettmann.

Pallbearers will be Wayne Beckermann, Rhett Burk, Angel Lopez, Leroy Armstrong, Dant Lange, Paul Kruse, Alton Sommerfield Jr., Ralph Becker and Carl Hoelscher.

Visitation will be held Friday, August 10 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham. Funeral services will be held at Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Brenham on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., officiated by Pastor Martin Moore. Burial will follow at Salem Lutheran Church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be made to Abiding Word Lutheran Church.

The family would also like to give special thanks to all of Alfred’s caretakers at Brenham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center & Hospice Brazos Valley as well as Dant Lange and Paul Kruse for their steadfast support in carrying on his legacy by so respectfully maintaining the land Alfred loved, just as he did in life.

Funeral arrangements for Alfred William Schwettmann are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.

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