Thelma Isenhart Obituary - College Station, TX

IN THE CARE OF

Memorial Funeral Chapel—College Station

Thelma Maurine Durham Isenhart, age 83, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on February 9, 2025 at 1:20 a.m. Thelma was born the eldest daughter to the late Stanley and Maxine Durham on November 22, 1941 in Houston, Texas.

Thelma was one of a kind - she was just as beautiful inside as she was on the outside. She LOVED life and TRULY lived each day. Raising three busy kids and caring for a husband whom she cherished, she handled the pressures and responsibilities of life with grace and always with a huge smile on her face. Her marriage of 62 years was to the Love of her Life, Woody. She adored her children and grandchildren and always made whoever she was with feel like they were the most important and special person in her life. That is a true talent but that was her ever-giving spirit. Even her pets felt loved and special. Her family routinely joked that they wanted to come back as her dog.

Thelma was courageous and took on life’s challenges with gusto. She was a 25 year breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed in 2000, underwent a double mastectomy, extensive chemotherapy/radiation and came out VICTORIOUSLY on the other side. She was a huge breast cancer survivor proponent and always counseled with women who had been newly diagnosed with this awful disease to help them through their initial shock and difficult time. She spent her energies volunteering for the Surviving and Thriving luncheon and as a member of the Pink Alliance organization within the Bryan/College Station area.

She was also a lifetime learner. She met her “love” Woody at Sam Houston State University in 1960; they married in 1962 but never finished their degrees. After raising their children in Tomball, Texas, they decided to go back to school when they were 50 years old to finish their undergraduate degrees at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. They chose this fine university because of what it stood for…Honesty. Excellence. Integrity. Selfless Service. Respect. Leadership. Loyalty. She displayed these important characteristics everyday in her own life. Thelma graduated with a political science degree and was in the Class of ‘93. WHOOP. Thelma and Woody were awarded the prestigious “Parents of the Year” designation at Texas A&M in 1992. They were humbled and overwhelmed by this honorable consideration.

She was a “stay at home” Mom for most of her life. But after her college graduation at age 53, she was blessed and fortunate to get a job with the Texas A&M University System working in the prestigious Board of Regents office. She absolutely loved working at “The Board” - it wasn’t just a job to her. The staff at the Board office was her 2nd family and she loved visiting with the dignitaries and guests of the Board when they were in town. She treated the student workers like her own children and helped a ton of Aggies get through school while she was in that role. It was an Honor for her to serve as a steward of Texas A&M and the great State of Texas.

Thelma was a hobbyist and always involved in keeping her mind sharp and body busy. She was extremely talented - she loved to make beautiful porcelain dolls and ceramics in her kiln and became highly skilled at painting beautiful nature scenes on canvases with oil paints. Being a 5th generation Texan, she loved to paint fields of bluebonnets and good ole rustic Texas scenes with windmills and hills found in the rugged Big Bend area of Texas. She made sure to exercise every day and was an avid tennis player. She loved to garden and be outside. She LOVED her antique roses. She danced every dance at weddings and learned to play the piano at age 55 - can you say ROCKSTAR? She was a true “renaissance” woman in every sense of the word.

Most importantly, she loved and served the LORD with gladness and singleness of heart. She was a “cradle Episcopalian”, always volunteering to help any church in which she was a member. In the later years of her life, she loved going to St. Thomas Episcopal Church in College Station, Texas and enjoyed cooking breakfast, alongside Woody and others, on Sunday morning for the parishioners. She was a BELIEVER by her Faith (not by sight) and had no doubt where she was going in the afterlife. Heaven gained an extraordinary angel and her family knows that she is dancing with Jesus as we speak.

Thelma is preceded in death by her parents, Stanley “Bud” Durham and Maxine Duke Durham; and beautiful great-granddaughter, Ella Isenhart.

Thelma is survived by her loving husband, William Woodrow (Woody) Isenhart of College Station, Texas; son, Joe Isenhart and wife Stacey of San Antonio, Texas; son Brad Isenhart and wife Dana of Iola, Texas; Daughter Mary Beth (Isenhart) Henthorne and husband Neil of Iola, Texas. 7 grandchildren whom she adored (and respective spouses): Tyler Isenhart, Sam Isenhart (and wife, Holly), Braden Isenhart, Abby Isenhart Rylands (and husband, Chip) Emma Isenhart, Hunter Isenhart, and Sophie Isenhart; brother, Stanley Durham of Canyon Lake, Texas and his daughter Patricia (and husband Connor); cousin Marilyn Winneford of Houston, Texas; and David, Eric and Andrew, her nephews. She also leaves many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.

A celebration of Thelma’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 8th at the Little Chapel in Iola, Texas with a light reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Pink Alliance Organization, P.O. Box 6373, Bryan, Texas 77805-6373. She would love to continue to help Breast Cancer Survivors - Survive and Thrive.

Although Thelma’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us. May her memory be a blessing, and may we carry forth her legacy of love and compassion in all that we do. As you continue to dance with Jesus, sweet Thelma, please know that your light will forever shine brightly in our hearts.

Thelma was active as a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Canyon Lake Village Activities Committee for many years. I have always said she was the best contribution I made in all my 39 years of service to our Association when that day at the pool I asked her to serve on the Board with me.

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Catherine Gruwell Obituary

Cathy was active in our Association before 1987

Catherine Gruwell's passing on Thursday, May 19, 2022 has been publicly announced by Lux Funeral Home & Cremation Services in New Braunfels, TX.

Memorial Events
for Catherine Gruwell

Service

6-4-2022 10:00 a.m.

Mountain Valley Cemetery

1901 Sattler Rd., Canyon Lake, TX 78132

Catherine Gruwell Obituary - Lux Funeral Home & Cremation Services - 2022 (legacy.com)

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Barbara Leigh “Barb” Lucas (Cochran), 65, of New Braunfels, Texas, passed away August 28, 2022 succumbing to cancer.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Major Richard and June Cochran, a sister, Carol Sue and survived by her Husband Richard Speicher, her siblings and their spouses, Bill (Suzy), Debbie (Greg), Jill (Jerry), Joey (Vic), and John (Lesia), her double-cousins, Dick, David, Kenny, Paul and Kathy, and forty-one nieces and nephews.

Barb was a nature lover, loved gardening, traveling, and was an avid reader. She worked as a real estate agent and property manager in central Texas.

Barb was not a Texas transplant. Born in El Paso in 1956, Barb and her siblings followed their parents around the country as proud "Army Brats". She returned to her home state in 2007.

Barb served on the Board of Directors of the Canyon Lake Civic Assoc Inc becoming 2nd VP.

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Leon Kenneth “Ken” Clarke
Jan 15, 1929 – Nov 12, 2016
 Past President of CLVCAI

 Ken Clarke has been blessed for 87 active years of loving devotion to God, his family, his community, and his country. After a short illness, he entered the Lord’s rest on November 12, 2016.

 Proud progenitor of two children, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, Ken is survived by his second wife, Betty Paulsen Clarke; daughter Zane Tyson with her husband Roger; son Tod Clarke with his wife Jennifer. He is preceded in death by his wife of 37 years and mother of his children, Nancy Edgar Clarke.

 Born and raised in Mercedes, Texas, Ken earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Texas A&I University then enlisted in the US Navy in 1951 as the Korean Conflict began. During his four years with the Navy Ken graduated from OCS and served as a Lieutenant, later qualifying as a member of the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT). He served as a navigator on the destroyer USS James C. Owens seeing action while patrolling the Korean coast, and on the USS Apache which played a role in Operation Castle, hydrogen bomb testing conducted at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

 After discharge in 1954 he and his beloved Nancy married and later moved to Houston. During that time Ken was active in Spring Woods United Methodist Church, and was elected to the Klein ISD School Board, serving as Secretary from 1969 to 1972.

 Ken spent 31 distinguished years as a Petroleum Landman with Carter Oil Company, Humble Oil & Refining Company and Exxon, where he was instrumental in the training of newly hired landmen and drafting the training manuals used for many years.

 Following retirement, in 1988 Ken and Nancy moved to Canyon Lake in the beautiful Texas Hill Country where he once again became very involved in years of leadership positions with the Canyon Lake Village Homeowners Association.  Sadly their life together there was short-lived, with Nancy succumbing to Alzheimer's Disease in 1997. A happy juxtaposition of circumstances led to marriage to his former high school sweetheart, Betty Davis Paulsen, and they spent 17 contented years in Columbus, Texas. In 2014, a decline in Ken's health deteriorated such that he relocated to a memory care facility near his son in San Antonio. He fortunately recovered the best part of his faculties and entertained family, staff, and visitors with his good spirits, singing, leadership, and wonderful sense of humor for the remainder of his life.

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Evelyn Lanetta John McMenemy
19 Jan 1920 - 5 Sep 2018
CLVCAI Building & Grounds Chair
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193651463/evelyn-j_-mcmenemy

Evelyn John McMenemy born January 19, 1920, a resident of Canyon Lake for over 20 years, passsed away in Silver City N. MX. at 98 years of age. She was a native Houstonian, graduated from Reagan High school and attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, TX, a lifelong member of St. Marks Methodist Church in Houston. She was the Executive Secretary, retired from Superior Oil (ExxonMobil) with 27 years of service.

She was married to Albert Edward "Mac" McMenemy, deceased Dec.10, 2000 for 59 years. They were active members of the Republican Club and Board members of the Canyon Lake Village Civic Association during their retirement years in Canyon Lake. She designed and she and Mac oversaw work on the interior of the upstairs' room of the clubhouse and was Building and Grounds Director for years. Funeral services will be held October 6, 2018, at 10am at Forest Park Lawndale 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX.

The original Obituary was taken from the Herald-Zeitung

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Clarence “Dub” Janowski,
  Past President of CLVCAI
of Canyon Lake, TX, passed away at the age of 86, on Friday, January 19, 2018, after a two-year battle with lung cancer.

Dub was born November 29, 1931 to Mike and Emma (Sherman) Janowski. He graduated in 1948 from San Antonio Vocational and Technical School, later renamed Fox Tech. Dub joined the United States Air Force in 1950 and served in Japan during the Korean War. After returning home from his military service he met and married Margaret Ann Rogers on July 4, 1958. He worked as an Insurance Fraud Investigator for Retail Credit Company in San Antonio and surrounding areas for many years and then began a career as an Independent Insurance Agent. In 1972 he began representing the Property and Casualty market with Germania Farm Mutual and started Local Chapter 55 in the Canyon Lake Area where he and Margaret served the community for over 30 years. He was instrumental in the formation of Comal County Crime Stoppers and served on their board in many capacities for over 20 years. He was also a member of the New Braunfels and Canyon Lake Lions clubs. He retired in 2006 and remained in the Canyon Lake area.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife Margaret, brothers Walter Guenther and wife Blanche, Joe Janowski and wife Laura Lee, Adolph “A.D.” Janowski, his Sister Rosalee Anderson and husband Andy, Sister in Law Tilly Janowski, nephews Richard Janowski, William Janowski, niece Emma Lee Judkins and great niece Shawna Gray.

Dub is survived by his daughters: Carolyn Zirkel and husband Bobby of Medina, TX, Jennifer Wilborn of Kingsville, TX, Cynthia Braune and husband Darryl of Canyon Lake, TX. 
Brother: Andrew Janowski of San Antonio, TX. 
Grandchildren: Scott Zirkel and wife Melissa, Brad Zirkel and wife Dianne, Dustin Braune and fiancé Gabby Vecchiarelli, Tanner Braune, Logan Braune and Emma Wilborn
Great grandchildren: Austin Zirkel, Caleb Zirkel, Annie Zirkel, Emily Zirkel and Crista Zirkel. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements for a memorial gathering are currently pending and will be posted soon.

Anytime there was a funeral, Dub and Margaret always brought food and their condolences.
They were active in the Canyon Lake Village Civic Association in the 1980s. He served as President in 1985-1986.

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Gay Helm
abt Oct 2018
Past President of CLVCAI

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Russell Sterritt was one of the 1st, if not the 1st President of CLVCAI before 1985

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