Evelyn Saegert Lobrecht

Funeral services for Evelyn Saegert Neal Lobrecht, 87, will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Wednesday, December 5th at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Crawford-Bower Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Mrs. Lobrecht was born in Killeen, TX on October 20, 1925 to Edwin A. Saegert and Ella Freels Saegert. She died peacefully at her family home on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in the same room where she was born.

Mrs. Lobrecht graduated from Killeen High School in 1943. Later, she attended Nixon Clay Business School in Austin, TX. Then, she worked in the finance department at Camp Hood, TX. While there, she met and married a Camp Hood soldier, Commie Neal of Rising Fawn, GA. They started their family in Killeen, where their first two children, Barbara and Kenneth, were born. Later, they moved to Port Lavaca, TX where their third child, Lester, was born. Mrs. Lobrecht was married to her husband, Commie, for 21 years until his death in 1967.

In 1969, she married Gerard J. Lobrecht. She became very interested in the genealogy work he had done for his family and together they researched, compiled and wrote a comprehensive history of the Saegert family and their migration from Germany to Texas. In 1980, Evelyn and Gerard moved to Killeen and together they began to restore her family home, which was built by her grandfather around 1908. They were married for 41 years until his death in 2010.

Mrs. Lobrecht was a devout Christian and was equally devoted to her family. She had long been considered the matriarch and historian of the Saegert family. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and was involved in the women’s group, the readers and writers group, and numerous bible study groups. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star (Killeen Chapter 490) for 63 years.

Mrs. Lobrecht was loved and respected by those who knew her and was well known for her warm smile and gracious charm. She was a marvelous homemaker and was equally talented with both a pan and a pen. For years, her homemade breads and cookies were favorites at family reunions, holiday gatherings and other social events. Her handwritten letters, cards, poems and stories were treasured by those who read them and received them. In her younger years, she would often include elaborate calligraphy in many of her writings. She also learned the art of color portrait painting from Gerard’s mother, Emma, at his parents’ photography studio in Alice, TX.

Mrs. Lobrecht was preceded in death by her parents Edwin and Ella Saegert, brother Edwin A. Saegert Jr., first husband Commie Neal, sister Laverne Saegert Barkey, step- granddaughter Cathy Rhody, son Kenneth Edward Neal and second husband Gerard J. Lobrecht.

She is survived by her sister Jo Ann Keller and husband John of Buda; daughter Barbara Schneider and husband Walter of Killeen, daughter-in-law Linda Neal of Burleson, and son Lester Neal and wife Cheri of Thousand Oaks, CA; five grandchildren, Amy Schneider Eppinette (Stephen) of Flower Mound, Emil Walter (Chip) Schneider III (Stefany) of Flower Mound, Kenneth E Neal II of Bellevue, NE; two step-granddaughters, Connie Lobrutto of San Antonio, Christy Jones of Venus; six great-grandchildren, Hayden Eppinette, Lauren Eppinette, Madelyn Schneider and Emily Schneider all of Flower Mound, Sylvia Neal and Kenneth Neal III of Bellevue, NE; six step-great-grandchildren, Cody Jones of Venus, Colton Rhody and Grace Rhody of Brock, and Clara Rickman and Jacob Rickman of Sandston, VA and Joey Lobrutto of San Antonio; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church building fund at 1104 North 4th Street, Killeen, TX 76541.