Alton Gaskamp

Alton R. Gaskamp, age 75, passed away Friday, January 27, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Care Center in Brenham, Texas. He is survived by daughters, Barbara McIntyre and husband Michael of Brenham, Tara Thompson and husband Larry of League City, and Connie Gaskamp of Houston, his grandchildren, Nicholas McIntyre of Huntsville, Jonathan McIntyre of Huntsville, Rachel Thompson of Huntsville, and Zachary Thompson of League City and a step granddaughter, Michele Rayburn of Keller. He is also survived by brothers, LeRoy Gaskamp of El Campo, Gilbert Gaskamp and wife Erna of Brenham, Vernon Gaskamp and wife Jeanette of Brenham, and sister-in-law Olivia Gaskamp of Brenham, numerous nieces and nephews, special friend Darleen Fischer and special caregiver, Listene Hubert. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Winnie Leggett Gaskamp, sister Mandy Schulze and brother-in-law Melvin Schulze, brother Erwin Gaskamp, sister-in-law Katherine Gaskamp, infant brother, step-son Tommy Leggett, and infant granddaughter. He was born on February 4, 1930 in the Longpoint Community in Washington County to Edwin Gaskamp and Emma Glaesmann Gaskamp. He was baptized on March 30, 1930 at Zion Lutheran Church. He was confirmed on March 25, 1945 at St. John s Luth. Church of Prairie Hill by Rev. Paul Gogolin. He attended Washington County schools and Blinn College. He served in the U. S. Army in Korea. On October 12, 1952 he was married to Evelyn Schulze at St. John s Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill. They had three daughters and were members of St. Peter s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill, TX for many years. Alton served as Sunday School superintendent and on the church council. He was the owner of Liquid Gas Service Co., also known as Propane Gas Service Company from 1965 to 1999. He began work at Liquid Gas in March, 1954 and knew every road and practically every house in the county. He was always concerned about his customers, especially the ones with babies, having enough heat in the wintertime. The company celebrated 50 years in business in 1998. He was a past commander of the Brenham American Legion Post # 48. He was a past president of the Brenham Evening Lions Club and served as president of the Texas LP-Gas Association in 1977-1978. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed cards, dominoes, and traveling. On January 20, 1976 he married Winnie Leggett at St. Paul s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brenham. They lived in Georgetown, Texas in the early 1990 s until Winnie s death in 1998. He moved back to Brenham in 1999 when his health began to fail. He battled Parkinson s disease. He moved to Trinity Care Center in August, 2001. Special thanks go to Listene Hubert, Darleen Fischer, and all of the many caregivers at Trinity Care Center and especially Sister Pat Zielenski and also Ann O Malley for their years of dedicated service to Alton. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Nicholas McIntyre, Jonny McIntyre and Zachary Thompson, and nephews, Robin Gaskamp, Larry Gaskamp, Brian Gaskamp, Bruce Gaskamp, and Erwin Gaskamp Jr. Memorials may be given to St. Paul s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brenham. Funeral services will be held Monday, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 305 W.Third St. Brenham, Texas. Burial will be at the Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham. Visitation with the family will be held 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 29, 2006 at the Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., Brenham, phone # 979-836-4564, www.memorialoakschapel.com.