Thomas Joseph Linbeck

Thomas Joseph Linbeck, 78, of Bee Cave, Texas, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 4, 2019, in Austin. Tom witnessed the birth of the Johnson Space Center in the 1960s. As a physicist, he worked on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. He played an instrumental role in the JSC Apollo Mission team that landed a man on the moon in 1969. Later he worked on the Apollo-Soyuz and Skylab programs, and supported the space shuttle missions as the Manager of the Mission Planning Lab. Tom also served 15 years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department. Tom's relentless curiosity about how things worked was apparent at a very early age when he disassembled the family radio, much to his mother's surprise. He did successfully reassemble it in short order though, and the family became proudly accustomed to the whiz kid in their midst. Later in life he enjoyed years of exploring the great outdoors with his family on camping trips and hikes through mountains and canyon trails. He was an accomplished musician and vocalist, often sharing these God-given talents at church. He could not resist a vacant piano anywhere. Tom was a humble man of deep faith and quiet dignity. He was most recently a member of Emmaus Catholic Parish in Lakeway, serving as Spiritual Director for CRHP. Before moving to Austin, he was a longtime member of St. Clare Catholic Church in Clear Lake. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Olivia Linbeck, and his wife, Helen Gerecke Linbeck. He is survived by his wife, Nan Linbeck of Bee Cave; son, Joseph Linbeck of Houston; daughters and sons-in-law, Nicole and Ron Hill of League City, Tx and Janet and Chris Barkis of Vacaville, Ca.; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Bonnie Linbeck of Kemah, Tx; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Jane and Johnnie Faulkner of Kyle, Tx and Mary and George Chisolm of Ragley, La; and 5 grandsons, Joshua, Zachary, Stephen, Matthew, and Nicholas. He is also survived by his much-loved stepsons and their families, Paul and Margaret Freudenburg of Spicewood; Troy Freudenburg and Xan Wood; Scott Freudenburg and Melissa Gus; his step-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at Emmaus Catholic Parish in Lakeway, Tx. The memorial mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 15, 2019 at St. Clare Catholic Church in Clear Lake City, followed by a graveside service at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Dickinson. The family asks if you wish to make a donation to honor Tom, it be sent to Emmaus Catholic Church, in care of the building fund. The address is 1718 Lohmans Crossing, Lakeway, Texas 78734. Phone 512-261-8500