Joe Bryan Head

Joe Bryan Head May 14, 1940 - June 7, 2010 Joe Bryan Head of Austin passed away on June 7, 2010, after suffering from brain cancer since January 16, 2008. Joe accepted God's will in all of life, including this last illness. He spoke of the joy of Heaven and being with God, saying, "I'll go sooner or later! It's in God's hands." Joe was supported by family, friends, neighbors from the BartonView neighborhood, members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish and many others. He received excellent care from the staffs of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; Texas Oncology, Austin; and Hospice Austin, Christopher House and Practical Care Continuum. Joe liked to say he was one of the few people born in Austin! He was born in Austin on May 14, 1940, to Elizabeth Ladwig Head and Truman Head. The family soon moved to Temple, TX, where Joe grew up. Joe's mother, Elizabeth, died of polio in 1948. His father, Truman, married Tena Scanio. Truman died in 2009. Joe is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Kay, whom he met at the University of Texas Catholic Student Center; their daughter, Kat and her husband Jensey Lund; their daughter C.J. and her husband, Kirby Schimmels and their children Kirby, Maddie, and Shylo. Also mourning his loss are his brothers, Jerry Head, and his wife, Stephanie, James Head and his wife Marianne, and his sisters, Janet Bandas and her husband, Rick, and Jenna Akridge and his step-mother, Tena Scanio. After graduating from Temple High School, Joe attended A & M University for one year. He then transferred to St. Edward's University in Austin where he became a Catholic. He became a member of the Madonna House Associates from Combermere, Ontario, Canada where he served as a missionary from June, 1962, to January, 1969. After leaving Madonna House, Joe earned his bachelor's degree in education and his master's degree in guidance and counseling. He spent 28 year as a teacher, visiting teacher and counselor for the Austin Independent School District. Joe and Kay retired in 1999 and were able to travel around the world together visiting Ireland, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, and Israel. Joe was a very out-going, friendly, and caring person. He never met a stranger. He always reached out to those in need. He gave untiringly of himself serving others, yet made it fun! He had a wonderful sense of humor with which he lightened others lives. Joe's Catholic faith was extremely important to him. He studied his faith and tried to spread it to others. As brain cancer gradually took his ability to speak, Joe continued to minister to others by knitting hats on a loom, making scarves out of fleece, and knotting rosaries. These were distributed to all, especially to the homeless. A Vigil Service and Rosary will be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 4800 Convict Hill Rd., Austin, TX, 78749. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 10, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Madonna House Apostolate, 2888 Dafoe Rd., RR 2, ON KOJ 1LO, Canada.