Raymond Thaler

Raymond Chestly Thaler, Sr., 87, of Brenham, died October 2, 2015 at Brenham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 5, 2015 at St. Paul''s Lutheran Church of Rehburg, with Pastor Denise Seymore officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation with the family and friends will be on Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Raymond was born in Burton on December 16, 1927 to Willie and Lillie Heine Thaler. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul''s Lutheran Church of Rehburg and attended the Rehburg community school. On January 1, 1950, he was united in marriage to Annie Laurie Rothermel Thaler in St. John''s Evangelical Church in Burton. In 1954, Raymond began his career with the Brenham Police Department when there was just one police car and a phone on the street corner post. He received his law enforcement certification from the Texas A & M Law Enforcement Training Academy. His advanced certification was earned through the Criminology Department at Blinn College. He worked his way up in the ranks and retired from his position as Deputy Chief in 1992 after 38 years with the Brenham Police Department. Raymond loved his family, most importantly the love of his life, Annie Laurie, who was his wife of 64 years. They were nearly inseparable and rarely missed church activities, sporting events of their grandchildren, or the first day of deer season. Most of Raymond''s free time was spent on his farm where he enjoyed hunting, fishing and taking care of cattle. He took great pride in his Double TT Cattle business that he and his son, Ray, started in the mid-1970''s. Survivors include: his son and daughter-in-law, Ray and Linda of Brenham; daughter, Annette Turner of Brenham; grandchildren, Matt and Patricia Thaler of Lake Worth; Lindsay and Blake Henry of Portland, TX.; Terry A. Turner, Jr. and fiance'' Joni Stolle of Houston; great-grandchildren; Madalyn Claire Henry, Aaron Chestly Thaler and Vicente Veliz; brother and sister-in-law, James D. and Dorothy Ann Rothermel of Brenham; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Rothermel of Brenham, Joan Rothermel of Brenham, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by: his wife Annie Laurie Thaler, his parents, ; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bailleaux and Nathalie Ponfick Rothermel; brothers, Thomas H. Rothermel and William A. Rothermel; sister, Mary Louise Rothermel; sister and brother-in-law, Nathalie and Dick Landua; brothers-in-law and sisters-in- law, Oliver and Eloise Whitener, Bill Thaler, Eugene and Marjorie Ann Thaler, Lunette and Melvin Roehling. Serving as pallbearers are: Charles Landua, James Rothermel, Jr., Donald Rothermel, Bob Whitener, Thomas Whitener, Billy Thaler, Mike Thaler, Rick Thaler, Edwin Campbell, and Michael Rothermel. The family would like to include past and present officers of the Brenham Police Department and of the Washington County Sheriff''s Department as honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be given to St. Paul''s Lutheran Church of Rehburg. The family would like to give special thanks to Julia Marshall for her endearing love and care extended to Raymond during the past year. Also, special thanks to the medical personnel and staff at Brenham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral arrangements for Raymond Thaler are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memeorialoakschapel.com.