Pastor Pecht

Pastor Virgil Pecht, 84, of Brenham, passed away November 13, 2015 at Kruse Village in Brenham. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Monday, November 16, 2015 at St. Peter''s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill, with Pastor Skip Stutts officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 until 6 p.m. Sunday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Virgil York Pecht was born October 25, 1931 in Houston, Texas to Edmund and Josie Schuller Pecht. Virgil was the youngest of eight children, and the last of a set of triplets. He was baptized on his birthday, October 25, 1931 by Rev. John Harder at North Side Lutheran Church in Houston, and confirmed by Rev. Harder in April of 1945. Pastor Pecht attended schools in Houston, furthered his education at Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, and attended seminary in Columbus, Ohio. On August 27, 1961, he was married to Charlotte Mae Kempfer in Toledo, Ohio by her father, the Rev. Ernie Hempfer at Epiphany Lutheran Church. They were married for 33 years when Charlotte died on Sept. 5, 1994. Pastor Pecht served God faithfully for many years in the ministry. He served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Comfort, Texas, St. John''s Lutheran Church of Waller, Trinity Lutheran Church of Hempstead, and Faith Lutheran Church in Taft, Texas. Then, he served for over 30 years at St. Peter''s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill, as well as First Lutheran Church in Somerville. He also served as visiting pastor at St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill after his retirement from the ministry. He was instrumental in building the new congregation at Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Brenham, and S.A.M.S. organization in Somerville. Pastor Pecht was a kind, generous and caring man. His unwavering faith in God and his fellow man, along with his selfless and tireless service to the ministry in Brenham and Washington County will be held forever in the hearts of this community. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Gregory Lynn and Jan Pecht; daughter and son-in-law, Vicki Lee and Kelly Scott Smith, and daughter, Suzanne R. Pecht; grandchildren: Brittney Smith, Quinton Smith, Gunnar S. Smith, and Kaci Pecht; brother Vernon Pecht; sisters Vernell Turner, and Vonnie Adair and husband Billy; sister-in-law, Faye Pecht. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brothers and sisters-in-law Jack and Clara Pecht, Leroy and Mildred Pecht, C. J. and Velma Pecht, and Sydney Pecht; one brother-in-law, Bill Turner. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends. Serving as pallbearers are Gunnar and Quinton Smith, Rodney Weiss, David Reimer, Doug Schoppe, and Marvin Spreen. Honorary pallbearers are the members of St. Peter''s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill, and First Lutheran Church in Somerville. Memorials may be directed to the Scholarship Fund at St. Peter''s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill. Funeral arrangements for Pastor Virgil York Pecht are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.