Fred William Neumann

Reverend Fred William Neumann passed away on January 24, 2019. He was born in Marlin, Texas, on March 12, 1939. His parents were Fred W. Neumann and Jewel Mae Smith Neumann. He married Clara Lavon Chamness on May 30, 1959 at Grace Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on May 30, 2018. Fred was a Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor for 54 years. During the years of his education at Seminary, Fred taught 8th grade and served as interim Principal at Trinity Lutheran Church & School, Springfield, Illinois. His last year of Seminary he was employed by the State of Illinois to home school brain injured and maladjusted teenagers. He taught four students, and in later years received letters of thanks from two of them. He was a member of Austin Rotary and served as President of Northeast Austin Rotary during the 1980's. He also served on the board of Marywood Children and Family Services of Austin (now closed) in the 1980's.

Fred was baptized April 16, 1939 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Riesel, Texas, by Pastor E. A. Heckmann. He was confirmed March 29, 1953 at Grace Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas, by Pastor Elmer Klenk.

He attended Concordia College of Austin, Concordia College of Seward, Nebraska, and Concordia Theological Seminary of Springfield, Illinois, (now located in Ft. Wayne, Indiana). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education (1961), Bachelor of Divinity (1965), and Master of Divinity (1976). He was ordained August 1, 1965, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Gulfport, Mississippi. He served the following parishes: Vicarage at Trinity Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida; Pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Gulfport, Mississippi; Grace Lutheran Church, Lamesa, Texas, together with Faith Lutheran Church, Andrews, Texas; Faith Lutheran Church, Post, Texas; Trinity Lutheran Church, Norman, Oklahoma; and St. Paul Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas. Pastor Neumann was granted Pastor Emeritus at St. Paul Lutheran Church in 1997.

He is survived by his wife Lavon, his daughter Jacque Neumann Driskell (husband Stephen Driskell and their daughters Amanda Jewel and Rachel Elizabeth), his son Fred William Neumann V, his son John Aubrey Neumann (wife Alexa Reed Neumann, and John's children Scott Gerald Neumann [wife Kaitlyn Hurwitt Neumann, son William Peter Neumann], Hal Neumann, Suzanne Patricia Neumann), his sister-in-law Barbara Haedge Neumann and Emily Fairchild, the mother of John's children, along with numerous cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Jewel Neumann, his brother James Ray Neumann, his daughter-in-law Caryn Denise Zoch Neumann and his granddaughter Katherine Grace Neumann.

The family wishes to extend thanks to the staff of Texas Home Health Hospice and Brush Country Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their care of Fred over the recent months.

Fred's life will be celebrated at a Memorial Service at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 3501 Red River, Austin, Texas 78705 on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 2:00 PM with Reverend Richard Mittwede officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Altar Guild or St. Paul Lutheran Church Organ Fund, 3501 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78705.