In Memoriam

Lodge 141, Sealy invites members to August 9 meal

Officers met at Gordon Memorial Library at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. President Rick Martinez began the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. This was followed by the reading of the minutes and the treasurer’s report. We were happy to have District One Director Donnie Victorick attend our meeting. Donnie reported on the improvements at the Home Office and thanked us for our continued support of SPJST.

The August meeting will be held at Tony’s Restaurant so we are inviting our members to join us for a short meeting and a complimentary meal at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9. Thank you, Bernice Stolarski, Secretary —SPJST—

Lodge 155, Austin welcomes guests at July meeting

Lodge 155, Austin met for its third quarter meeting at Poke Jo’s in Austin on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 2 p.m. District Two Director Jesse Pospisil and wife Linda attended the meeting. After the meeting, everyone enjoyed a wonderful meal. Fraternally, Ginny Thomas, Secretary —SPJST—

H H Reunions H H

Reunion notices are published at no charge and as a benefit to SPJST members. First-run announcements may be edited to fit the space. Thereafter, until the week prior to the reunion date - as space permits - notices will be run in an abbreviated form. Please include your SPJST lodge number/name, and your contact phone number. Thank you. August 6 Hubenak families - Joe, John, Anton, Ignac, Vince, and Frank - at SPJST Lodge 9, Snook Hall, 457 County Road 269 in Snook, Texas. For information, contact Dianne Hubenak Jaster 979-255-3437. Submitted by Dianne Jaster, Lodge 9, Snook.

August 6 Rejcek family - Descendants/friends of Raymund and Kristyna Rejcek at Tours Hall, 245 St. Martins Church Road in West, Texas 76691. Submitted by Adell Rejcek, Lodge 25, Ennis.

—SPJST—

In Memoriam

In Memory of Joy Strey

Joy Koepp Strey passed away on July 18, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family. Visitation was Friday, July 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Finch Funeral Chapel in La Vernia. Funeral was Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m. at Christ Lutheran of Elm Creek Church in Seguin with Reverend Anne Kolmeier as officiant and Pastor Paul Theiss as co-cele- Joy Strey brant. Interment followed at 11:30 a.m. at Christ Lutheran of Elm Creek Cemetery in Seguin.

Pallbearers were Zachary Schlichting, Tucker Walters, Bode Walters, Briley Strey, Kinley Strey, and Ethan Strzelczyk. Honorary pallbearers were Eric Lindholm, Marshall Strey, Jason Koepp, Felix Duelm, and Mason Reaser.

Joy was born on September 4, 1936, in Seguin. Her parents were Carl Herman Koepp and Willie Erna (Bohannon) Koepp. She grew up on the family farm in New Berlin and attended school in New Berlin and Seguin. She graduated from Seguin High School in 1953 at the age of 16. In addition to helping on the family farm, she also went to work at the textile mill in New Braunfels working from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. After a few years, she changed employment and worked at the Randolph Air Force Base Exchange. She continued her employment at Lackland Air Force Base as a payroll clerk providing new airmen with their first paycheck.

In the meantime, she met her future husband through youth activities of the two different churches to which they belonged. In addition to their wedding date of January 31, 1959, they always recognized the importance of their first date which occurred on April 6, 1957. They spent many nights enjoying country music as she supported Melvin’s musical endeavors. If he wasn’t playing in the band, you would find the two of them dancing the night away. With the exception of four years when she was first married, she lived her entire life in New Berlin and was always extremely involved in all of the activities which occurred in New Berlin.

She became an officer of the New Berlin Community Club at an early age, and at her death, she was still the rental coordinator for the community center.

Through the years, Joy was involved with all of the major community events including the bringing of East Central Water to the New Berlin area, the establishment of the New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department and the creation of the City of New Berlin. She was a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, assisted with Vacation Bible School, and either participated in or organized numerous food-related functions.

She was a member of SPJST Lodge 258, Seguin.

She left employment outside of the home to devote full-time to raising a family. She was an active room mother, PTA member and booster club member to support her children’s school activities. She took great joy in attending all of her children’s and grandchildren’s ball games, banquets, and various activities through the years. She greatly enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and having them gather as often as possible. Her cooking and baking abilities were well recognized not only by friends and neighbors but also with the numerous awards she received. Her contributions to the volunteer fire department were acknowledged by being named Firefighter of the Year in 2012 and 2022 by the Guadalupe County Firefighters Association. She was thought of as a “second mom” by many members of the New Berlin VFD. She was known as the organizer of many fundraisers for the New Berlin VFD and the annual New Berlin Sausage Festival.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents; brother Carl Dwight Koepp; nephew Carl Henry Koepp; son-in-law Brian Walters; brothers-in-law Henry Strey Jr. and Marvin Huth; and sister-inlaw Gertrude Huth.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Melvin Strey; daughter Kimberly Schlichting (Jeff); daughter Kelly Lindholm (Jon); and son Kurt Strey (Barbara); grandchildren Zachary Schlichting, Tucker Walters, Bode Walters, Briley Strey, Kinley Strey, Eric Lindholm, and Meagan Prince; grandson-at-heart Ethan Strzelczyk; nephews Jason Koepp and Marshall Strey (Barbara); nieces Shirley Winkelmann (Gerald), Sharon Schaefer (Ronnie), Deborah Price (Paul), and Karen Bradshaw (Paul); very best friend Karen Borgfeld; and numerous cousins, friends, and neighbors. —SPJST—