Robert Donnell

Robert Lee Donnell, 86, of the Zionsville community near Brenham, passed away December 2, 2008 in Houston.

Mr. Donnell was born February 16, 1922 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Alfred Henry and Lettie Ann Davis Donnell. He attended Blinn College and received training in the military. He married Hedwig Heidi Hermine Wenz in Kitzingen, Germany, and they were married over 50 years. Mr. Donnell served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean Conflict, receiving the Bronze Star Medal and Good Conduct Medal from the U.S. Army. He retired from the U.S. Army with over 20 years of service in the field Artillery.

Mr. Donnell worked at Maddox Furniture Co. and was a retired farmer of crops and cattle. A member of Zion Lutheran Church of Zionsville, his hobbies included raising cattle, pets, and gardening. He was a wonderful father and husband and a man of great integrity, remaining true to his God, his country, his family, and the many relatives, friends, and neighbors who came into his life. He will be dearly missed.

Mr. Donnell is survived by his wife Hedwig Heidi Hermine Wenz Donnell; daughter, Dr. Patricia Ann Donnell of Brenham; sisters-in-law, Avyce Donnell of Houston and Lotte Rude of Germany; brothers-in-law and spouses Kurt and Renate Wenz, Alfons and Waltraud Wenz, and Sigmund and Ursula Wenz, all of Germany; nephews Dr. Allan Stahl of Knoxville, TN and Richard Donnell of Houston; niece, Jerrie Stahl of Huntsville, Arkansas, as well as numerous relatives in Germany.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Alfred Henry and Lettie Ann Davis Donnell; two brothers, Louis Donnell and Edward Donnell; two sisters, Helen Stahl and Geraldine Critz; three brothers-in-law, Allen Stahl, Gerhard Rude, and Herman and Hildegard Wenz; two sisters-in-law, Gerlinde Brenk and Hilde and Kirt Zwaans, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alfons and Hermine Stucky Wenz.

Funeral services for Robert Lee Donnell will be held December 5, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church of Zionsville with Pastor David Hall officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Serving as pallbearers are Gary Wagner, Erwin Emshoff, Kweyn Emshoff, David Lange, Dean Winkelmann, and Robert Babin.

Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church of Zionsville. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham.