Lillie Mae “Lil” Schroeder Hosek, 83, went to be with the Lord on May 24, 2024. Lil was born on November 18, 1940, in Victoria Hospital to Lillie Anna (Vogt) and Monroe Otto Schroeder. In her youth, Lil was involved with 4-H and was the first junior member (life insurance) for DaCosta Lodge #265 in 1948. Lil met her future husband, Henry Hosek, Jr., on her first day of school at Lone Tree. Their first date was on Valentine’s Day 1956. The new Victoria High School was built and Lil graduated in May 1959. She had completed her studies midterm and worked as a PBX operator for Totah’s Motel.
Lil and Henry married on September 15, 1959, at Trinity Lutheran Church. The couple moved to Beaumont where Henry attended Delmar College. Lil worked at Ridgewood Motel as a PBX operator and a desk clerk. Henry worked at Texaco and Exxon gas stations. After Henry’s completion of studies, Lil and Henry moved back to Victoria. The couple was blessed with three children, Sabra, Henry III, and Amber. Lil enjoyed being a mother and wife. In 1973, Lil was asked to become an insurance agent for Hermann Sons and represent DaCosta Lodge. Lil was the first woman agent to sell a million dollars worth of insurance. In 1977, she served as the first woman president of DaCosta Lodge. She worked with area lodges as a general agent and served on the Grand Lodge Youth Activity Committee working in public relations. Around 1966, she helped form the DaCosta Lodge Dancing School and in 1979, created the DaCosta Hermann Sons Junior Chapter, organizing activities and excursions for the youth. She retired from Hermann Sons in 1993, after serving for 20 years.
Lil and Henry loved to dance and would go every Saturday night in the 1970s, especially to Al Dean dances. They loved to travel having seen the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, three Disney cruises in the Caribbean, Canada, Europe twice, and the Holy Lands. Together and with family, they went to Disney World and Disneyland 35 times. Lil loved to study the Word of God and was dedicated to her Lord Jesus Christ. She will be remembered for her friendly smile and sincere hello. Lil enjoyed helping others, whether that was making meals to help family and friends or finding special gifts to bring joy to loved ones.
Lil is survived by her husband of 64 years, Henry Hosek, Jr., her daughters, Sabra Sauer and Amber (Jay) Young, and her son, Henry (Janet) Hosek III, all of Victoria. She is known as Marey Lil to her five grandchildren, Justin (Megan) Hosek, Grant (Melissa) Sauer, Karissa Hosek (Linhbergh Nguyen), Logan (Naomi) Sauer, and Shana Sauer (Samuel Valle). She is known as Ma to her great-grandchildren, Charles Sauer, Brinley Sauer, and Alexander Sauer. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Joyce Tagliabue, brothers, Monroe Lee Schroeder and Bobby Schroeder, and son-in-law, Craig Sauer.
Visitation will be held at Rosewood Funeral Home on Friday, May 31 at 5-7 pm. Funeral services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 1 at 10 am, followed by the burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Pallbearers are grandsons, Justin Hosek, Grant Sauer, Logan Sauer; nephews, Blane Schroeder, Shane Schroeder, and Monroe “Boogie” Schroeder. Honorary pallbearers are Karissa Hosek, Megan Hosek, Shana Sauer, Melissa Sauer, Naomi Sauer, Samuel Valle, Linhbergh Nguyen, Darla Jank, and Debbie Grimaldo.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www. rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
