Harold Federwisch

Harold Lloyd Federwisch, 89, passed away April 10, 2017. Services will be held 1pm Thurs. April 13, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home, 3124 Robinson Dr., Waco, with Jerry Arthur officiating. Burial will follow at Friedens Cemetery in Riesel. The family will receive visitors 5-7pm Wed. April 12 at the funeral home.
Reverend Harold Federwisch was born on January 24, 1928 in Riesel, Texas to Paul Theo Federwisch and Lena (Kunze) Federwisch. He was raised in the rural farming communities of Otto and St. Paul in Falls County where his parents farmed for many years among his numerous Kunze and Federwisch relatives. In 1939, the family was doubly blessed with the arrival of Harold’s only sibling, Mildred Louise, with whom Harold shared a lifelong, loving bond. As a child, he attended schools in both Riesel and St. Paul and ultimately graduated from the old St. Paul School in 1943. Harold enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 1946 and was first stationed at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas before being transferred overseas to Japan to serve as part of the post-World War II Army occupation. He served first as a trained army cook while stationed overseas before eventually receiving the proper certification to be a Military Policeman. After being discharged from the peacetime Army in September 1947, Harold returned to the States and worked a variety of jobs throughout central Texas and also farmed with his parents.
On February 3, 1951 Harold married his sweetheart of a few years, Mary Louise Courtade, eloping to the McLennan County courthouse on a whim one winter afternoon. At the time of his death, Harold and Mary had enjoyed over 66 years of loving marriage. To this union were born three daughters: Martha Marie, Patricia Ann, and Rose Mary. Harold worked for many years as a truck driver for McLennan County before retiring in the 1980s. After graduating from Baylor’s Truett Seminary school, Harold found his true life’s calling as a Baptist minister, ultimately preaching full-time at the Otto Baptist Church for a number of years until his retirement. He was also a member for many years at Meier Settlement Methodist Church where he also preached on occasion, in addition to officiating at numerous local weddings, christenings, and funerals at which he was always a calm, beloved presence. Harold was a man of strong Christian faith who had an abiding love and passion for his family and close friends, antique cars and motorcycles, studying his beloved Bible and family history, and any military or religious history texts. He took great pride in his World War II Army service by participating in numerous military parades and attending meetings devotedly as part of his local VFW chapter until his final illness.
Harold was preceded in death by his beloved parents and his younger sister Mildred Yett.
He is survived by his wife Mary Federwisch of Waco; three daughters: Martha Curry and husband Jerry of Hewitt, Patricia Shaw and husband Marshall of Riesel, and Rose Mary Tanner and husband Bob of Riesel; six grandchildren: Brian Curry and wife Kristi of Robinson, Lori Curry of Hewitt, Brent Shaw and wife Angela of Houston, Daryl Shaw and wife Natalie of Riesel, Derek Tanner of Riesel, and Dylan Tanner and fiancée Brittany of Baltimore, MD; seven great-grandchildren: Rebekah, Jacob, and John David Curry, Matthew and Alexandra Shaw, and Daryl Jr. and Nathan Shaw; brother-in-law Kenneth Yett of Waco; sister-in-law Frances Burney of Bellmead, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Pallbearers will include his five grandsons and one great-grandson, Daryl Shaw, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers will include his granddaughter Lori Curry, his three sons-in-law, Jerry Curry, Marshall Shaw, and Bob Tanner, and his brother-in-law Kenneth Yett.
Harold’s family would like to express their everlasting thanks and gratitude for the caring staff of both Royal Manor II Nursing Home and Southern Care Hospice, and Harold’s chaplain Sarah Miller, for all of the loving, devoted care they have given Harold in his last days here on Earth.