James Fathauer

James Jimmy Hubert Fathauer was born to Fred and Mattie Kettrick Fathauer on July 25, 1934, and passed from this life on Monday, December 12, 2011, at that age of 77. He was born in Somerville, Texas, the youngest of 3 siblings. Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ray Fathauer, and his wife of 14 years, Mary Martin Fathauer. At the age of 4, his family moved to Brenham where he was baptized at St. Paul''s Lutheran Church. Jimmy is survived by sister Joyce Bill Bogan, sister-in-law Velma Fathauer, 3 sons – Ray Busby Maria, Mike Busby Susan, and Tony Busby. He was Grandpa Jimmy to 10 grandchildren: Jennifer Busby Long, Mary Ruth Busby, Josh Busby, Brandon Busby, Heather Busby, Tyler Alford, Spenser Alford, DJ Busby, Scott Busby, and Mandy Busby, and 2 great granddaughters: Sadie and Mary J Schaub. Jimmy is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Friday, December 16, 2011 at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives Thursday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Jimmy graduated from Brenham High School with the Class of 1953. After his high school graduation, he began his career with the fire department on October 12, 1954. He volunteered for the fire department until enlisting in the Army. Upon his return from serving his country, he attended Blinn College and then later trained at Texas A & M Firefighter school before becoming a full-time fire fighter. He served the Brenham Fire Department for a total of 39 years and throughout that time held the following positions: Fire Dept Secretary-Treasurer, City Fire Inspector, City Fire Marshal, 2nd Assistant Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, and Instructor at Texas Fireman''s Training School. In the Army during the years of 1955 – 1957, Jimmy proudly served as a paratrooper in the 503rd Airborne Infantry, 11th Airborne Division. He began his training in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and was later stationed in Munich, Germany. Throughout his time of service, he completed 19 jumps. He returned to the United States on December 31, 1957, via a navy vessel. Jimmy remained a kind-hearted and gentle-spirited man throughout his entire life. He took extreme pride of his service to his community as a fire fighter, and his service to his country in the military. When asked to give advice to new firefighters of the Brenham Fire Department, Jimmy responded in this way: "Study, train, learn to be the best. Be ambitious, but do not let it cloud your main reason for being a fireman – Service to your department and above all, service to your community." Serving as pall bearers will be firefighters: David Gerland, Cecil Wright, Jerry Haack, Marvin Haevischer, Alan Finke, Allan Hinze, and Doug Maurer. Current and former fire fighters and employees of the City of Brenham will serve as honorary pall bearers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brenham Fire Department, Hospice of Brenham, or any charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements for James Hubert Fathauer are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit the website www.memorialoakschapel.com.