August Fred Haechten, Jr.

August Fred Haechten, Jr., 76, of Lowake passed away at his home on Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Born in Moulton, Texas on November 3, 1932 to Ella and August Haechten, Sr., August was the third of four children. The family moved to Runnels County when August was a young boy. He attended school in Paint Rock and graduated from Rowena High School.
August began dating the love of his life and long-time friend, Nancy Dell Bailey, in 1951. August asked for Nancy’s hand in marriage on January 21, 1953. Shortly thereafter, he was called to serve in the Korean War from 1953-1956. August always had a skill for numbers and accounting. When he returned from the Korean War, he earned a degree with honors in Accounting from Ranger Junior College by attending school at night and working full time during the day.
August and Nancy farmed and ranched for many years in Concho County. They had four loving children, Freddie, Cindy, John, and Mark. August served as a Paint Rock School Board Member from 1973-1980 where he was Vice President in 1976 and President 1977-1980. Mr. Haechten served as Concho County Commissioner from 1979-1982. In 1980, August began Haechten Insurance Agency as a crop insurance agent to serve the local farmers and ranchers. He was a long-time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena, the Knights of Columbus, and the VFW.
August and Nancy worked very well as a team, raising and breeding Rambouillet sheep in Lowake. They were positive role models in their children’s lives, enabling all four children to play sports, show livestock, and earn high academic achievements in school. August loved his family greatly. He taught his children and grandchildren how to be a leader, how to work hard, how to give, how to love, and how to keep the faith. August enjoyed fishing with his kids and grandkids. Trips to Choke Canyon Lake and bay fishing at Port Aransas were most memorable to him. August enjoyed family reunions each year at Inks Lake and at Lake LBJ. Family and friends remember him best by his commitment to others; his word was as good as gold.
August is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Louise Kotrlik.
Survivors include his loving wife and caregiver, Nancy Haechten of Lowake; sister, Mary Ann Halfmann and husband, Walter, of St. Lawrence, and brother, Allan James Haechten and wife, Arlene, of San Angelo; his children, Freddie Haechten of Midland, Cindy Wilde of Ballinger, John Haechten and wife, Kathy, of Buda, and Mark Haechten and wife, Twila, of Wall. August is also survived by his grandchildren, Stacey Schmidt and husband, Russell, of Hillsboro, Missouri, Bradley Haechten of Farmington, New Mexico, Heather Braden and husband, Chris, of San Angelo, Eric Wilde and wife, Polly, of Marble Falls, Christopher Wilde and wife, Krista, of Austin, Danielle Wilde and her fiancé, Zachary Norred, of Bee Cave, Trevor Haechten of Buda, Anthony Haechten of San Angelo, Dylan and Tanner Haechten of Wall; great-grandchildren, Hailey, Bryce, and Colton Schmidt of Hillsboro, Missouri, and great-grandchildren, Caleb and Jacob Braden of San Angelo. The family would like to give a special thanks to Manuel Martinez, a long-time friend and farm/ranch employee of August and Nancy, whose unending dedication is forever appreciated.
The rosary will be held Friday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Pallbearers will be August’s grandsons, Chris Braden, Eric Wilde, Bradley Haechten, Christopher Wilde, Anthony Haechten, Trevor Haechten, Dylan Haechten, Tanner Haechten, and Russell Schmidt. Presenting the gifts at the funeral will be August’s granddaughters, Stacey Schmidt, Heather Braden, Polly Wilde, Krista Wilde, and Danielle Wilde.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to St. Joseph Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 96, Rowena, TX 76875.