Vincent Eugene Sweat

Vincent Eugene Sweat was born at his parents’ home in rural Smith County Kansas on July 28, 1941 and went to heaven at home in Austin, Texas on Palm Sunday March 24, exactly 2 months from his 59th wedding anniversary on May 24, 1965.. Vince grew up on a farm near Claudell, Kansas where he attended grade school. He went to high school in Kensington, Kansas. He then attended college at Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University for his Master’s and his Missus, (Judith Wilder of Roosevelt, Oklahoma). Vince got his Masters and Judi got her BA in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Sunday night and they were married on Monday morning. After college he spent 3 years in the US Army, the first 2 years in Germany. Their first son Steve was born there in August 1966. In 1967 Vince was deployed to South Vietnam where he served in Cam Rahn Bay and Saigon. After completing his obligation to the US Army, he attended Purdue University from 1969 to 1971 for his PhD. Their second son, Kevin was born in December 1969 in West Lafayette, Indiana

Upon completion of his PhD program, he was hired as the first Food Engineer in the Agricultural Engineering department at Purdue. Vince’s research specialization was heat transfer in foods and thermal property measurement. He developed the line heat source thermal conductivity probe for measuring the thermal properties of foods. He made well over one hundred such probes which have been used by researchers all over the world. In September of 1977, Vince began his career in the Agricultural Engineering department at Texas A&M University where he served 24 years before retiring in 2001. He received the College of Engineering, College Level, Association of Former Students Award on September 23, 1994.

Vince and Judi worked diligently in their church. They were active in marriage preparation at St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station, Texas for many years. The Sacrament of Marriage was their passion and were fervent in spreading the good news about God’s Plan for couples. They served as a team for Worldwide Marriage Encounter from 1979 to 1990. In 1992 they became a team for Retrouvaille, A Lifeline for Hurting Marriages, which is a program for troubled couples. They served as leaders in that program until 2020 when Vince’s Parkinson’s Disease made it impossible for them to continue. They served Retrouvaille by presenting weekends in many communities around the country.

Their son Kevin married an Irish girl in Dublin in 1996 and that spurred a love for Ireland and all things Irish. Especially the people they met and Irish music! Between 1996 and 2022, they made 18 trips to Ireland. Taking many friends with them along the way. They still made time for other travels, going to Rome, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and Canada.

Their son Steve married Kerstin Harding at Assilimar Retreat Center in Monterey, California on Earth Day, April 22, in 2006. Beautiful couple, beautiful wedding.

Vince and Judi loved music. They played in many bluegrass bands over the course of 40 years. Both were singers and Vince played banjo, Judi guitar until she took up the standup bass. Vince and Judi entertained many friends in their home, hosting music parties and bringing people together for fun and fellowship. They had students live with them who needed to work for room and board! They hosted many guests in a bed and breakfast for several years.

In 2007 Vince and Judi moved to Lago Vista, Texas to be closer to their family in Austin. Vince was very active in St. Mary Our Lady of the Lake parish. He was a lector and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist as well as serving in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Vince liked to work and there was a section of the church property that hadn’t been kept up. He took it upon himself to clean up what he referred to as the “South Woods”. He cleared the area of brush and debris and then created an outdoor Stations of the Cross using cedar logs. He also created a log fence around the area to define it from the surrounding roads. Vince was a lover of the zip line and he created a zip line that children (and adults) could ride and have a wonderful time. That zip line is still in use. While in Lago Vista Vince sang tenor in the Hill Country Singers and in a Barber Shop group. Vince was instrumental in organizing a bluegrass group in Lago Vista. The group was called the Lago Vista Bluegrass Band. They played at 3 55+apartments in Cedar Park each month and at the Jonestown Senior Center monthly. It was after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in July of 2019 that he and Judi were encouraged to downsize and move into Austin to be closer to family. They moved from Lago Vista to Austin in November 2019 just before the Covid pandemic.

Vince had a full and purposeful life. In spite of the challenges of Parkinson’s, he always had a great, positive attitude. He never complained about anything and was always content. If anyone, medical or not asked about his mood, his stock answer was “I have a good life and a good wife!”

Monumental thanks to Brian King, Palliative Care nurse with Palliative Care Austin. We could not have asked for anyone more caring and helpful. He was instrumental in getting Vince home from the hospital and admitted to Hospice so he could be at home. He was there to help with all the details at Vince’s passing. He is amazing.

Vince is predeceased by his parents Eugene Sweat and Jean Stuckman Sweat, and brothers Ron and Jim Sweat. He is survived by his wife Judi, sons Steve (Kerstin), Kevin (Carmel) and grandson Elliott all of Austin and grandson Michael of Brooklyn NY, his sister Jean Sweat of Smith Center, Kansas, brother Don Sweat (Rhonda) of Syracuse, Nebraska, sister June Ankenbrandt, of Olathe, Kansas and many nieces and nephews and a slew of friends!! He will be sorely missed…

Thanks also to Thomas Jenson of Weed Corley Fish who has been most helpful and caring. In lieu of flowers consider a donation to Power for Parkinson’s, Ronald McDonald House or charity of your choice.