Daniel F. Crenwelge

1933 - 2025

In celebration of true love, Daniel F. Crenwelge, AKA Daddy, Opa, Grand Opa, Danny, passed on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the age of 92 years, in Methodist Hill Country Hospice with his children and their spouses surrounding him. He was born on April 25, 1933, in Harper, Texas to Emil and Elizabeth (Heinemann) Crenwelge. He was the second of six children.

Daniel saw a lot of changes in his 92 years, from no electricity, no TV, no telephone, to getting electricity, black and white TV, a party line crank telephone, Model T's, to a large bag cellphone, remote control operated color TV, air conditioning, and a gas car. He went to school on horseback and was enrolled in a one-room classroom for grades 1 to 8 at Pecan Creek School House. He was especially smart in Math. He learned how to plant seed by hand and with a horse drawn plow. Whatever was planted in the ground was used for the family from the grain to vegetables in the garden. They processed their sheep, goats, hogs, and cattle for the meat on the table. His biggest joy was when he could share his accomplishments and also share his failures and having an answer to succeed in farming the next time. He loved the land and always had faith that prayer would bring him through it.

He met the first love of his life, Shirley (Schneider) Crenwelge. They both loved to dance and he asked for her hand. Out of the love for each other, they had four children. They started their family of two girls and two boys in the Pecan Creek community. He was the teacher of planting a garden, raising a feedlot of lambs, and also working once a week at the livestock auction. He raised his own grain and at times, would drive to Ballinger in the Big Green Truck with one of the kiddos as his passenger. Enjoyed those Daddy times of traveling and eating homemade sausage and bread along the way. Daniel was also our "Santa Claus" at Christmas times. It was always odd that he would have to check the sheep right before Santa Claus appeared at the front door. It was great telling him we had just seen Santa. On weekends, as a family we would all go to family or friend or some family would visit us. We so enjoyed those times of great conversation, playing outside games, and the Dads always taking a drive in the pasture to check out the planted fields or livestock. Daniel always made sure we did things as a family on weekends and how to play and work together.

He worked at Farmers Grain as a young man and then after he was married, he worked for the county grading the road smooth again after a good rain. He worked at Gillespie Livestock for 50-plus years as an unloader and loader of livestock. But when the auction started, he was a main sheep buyer for other feedlots, his own feedlot and for anyone that was looking for specific type animals. He was known as "Big D" in the auction ring. The employees always enjoyed the down time when the auction was over. They loved the times watching Danny beating everyone or almost everyone at times, when playing dominoes or High 5, also the jokester, prankster in him and the great laughing times.

He learned to shear sheep and goats for income, also. He mainly sheared sheep with a crew locally, and in Mason and Kendall County. Danny was known as the "Fastest Sheep Shearer" around. Since he raised sheep mainly, he learned to make the best mutton barbecue and sauce. He was asked many times to fix mutton barbecue for weddings and celebrations.

Daniel was a lifelong member of the Pecan Creek Community Club and loved the family gatherings, and playing dominoes and High 5. He was a Farm Bureau Director of many years, Gillespie County Stock Show Director for 50-plus years, and recognized for his 50-plus years as volunteer with the Gillespie County Fair Association. He was also a director for the Gillespie County Farm Mutual Insurance and received the award for "Pioneer Farmer". He was also very proud of his time in the 4-H program. He loved the time he had with his four children showing sheep in the local show, San Antonio, and finally in Houston. He was excited to be chosen as an Outstanding 4-H Leader. Daniel liked helping other 4-Hers with their lamb projects, as well, from picking out a lamb for the show, to shearing, to amount of feed needed, to how to hold a lamb for the show.

Daniel enjoyed dancing so much, him and Shirley became members of the Jolly Dance Club at the Turner Hall. They went to many dances at Pat's Hall, Spring Creek, and Turner Hall. They met many a friend from surrounding counties at the dances as well as a lot of locals. He also enjoyed after a long day's work of combining, or plowing, or baling, or taking care of his sheep feedlot a cold can of "Pearl Beer" under the big tree at the house and listening to nature's beautiful sounds.

When his first wife passed after 33 years of marriage, he was a lonely man and did not like being alone. He went to nightclubs to dance and socialize with others his age. Daniel then met another love, Gloria Franz. He was a very happy man again. They loved the casino and went to Kickapoo in Eagle Pass often. To celebrate their birthdays, they would travel to Las Vegas to play. I think they tried to see who could stay up the latest playing, but Gloria usually won due to Daniel having to drive home. They usually broke even, but had a few good money wins.

They both enjoyed their retirement years of each other's company in the country. Daniel enjoyed sitting on the front porch with Gloria in the evenings with a can of beer and also feeding and watching his fallow deer. He enjoyed the 15 years with a partner in his life.

He enjoyed hunting time in the fall. He always liked seeing his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren hunting for the biggest buck and then listening to the stories about the hunt. He always wanted to see the horns if he happened not to be at the ranch. He wanted to hear the stories whether hunting was in Texas, Colorado or Wyoming. He liked traveling to New Mexico, Colorado or Sheffield to hunt with his 2 sons. Those were the best father-son bonding times.

Daniel was also the giver of advice for farming and the signs of weather conditions. He could usually pick the right time to harvest grain or cut the hay. He loved to butcher a whole hog, then make sausage and bacon and make tamales from the hog head. Nothing went to waste. The whole family had their parts when the butchering day was.

The grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the step families were the sparkle in his eye. He would always ask, "What they were all doing?" He showed his love for them by always giving a hug or a strong handshake. He would always say "thank you" to everyone, even if he did not know them, for their gesture of kindness.

Daniel was very faith-filled and belonged to St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Society, and the ACTS community. You would see him with a rosary praying when the weather got bad or to pray for rain or if someone he knew was really sick. His statue of over 6 feet tall remained throughout his life. He gave the presence of strength but when talking to him, you knew he was all about love, caring, and sharing his big smile.

Daddy loved his sweet rolls, sweet rice, cakes, cookies or any kind of sweet at each meal. He looked forward on weekends for his niece's "sweet surprise" that she would put in his mailbox. Daniel had the honor of staying at home in the country by himself. That is the way he wanted it and we were confident he could do it. He was able to stay at home until his 92nd birthday.

Daniel celebrated his 92nd birthday eating barbecue and his favorite German Chocolate Cake. Five days after his birthday, he went to to be with the Lord, but most importantly he went to go to another birthday celebration. You see, our Mom (Shirley) was celebrating her birthday on April 30 and Daddy was there for the biggest celebration of all.

We will miss his loving embrace, and his words, "I love you." We will also miss his daily morning calls of "I am OK, Have a good day, and I love you". His tall stature, big smile, strong handshake, beautiful smile, giving soul will remain with all that knew our Daddy.

Daniel is survived by 1 daughter and 2 sons --

Debora and Dudley Marquardt, Dale and Abbie Crenwelge, Danny "Boy" and Vicky Crenwelge

11 Grandchildren --

Dean and Jaime Marquardt, Daniel and Kristin Marquardt, Diane and Nick Moellering, Drew and Carla Crenwelge, Cameron, Peyton, Cody, Brant, Carlie, Kate Crenwelge and Tyrel Ransleben

11 Great-Grandchildren --

Derek, Jenna, Bryson, Gracie, Mickayla, August, Lukas, Brooklynne, Daniel, Charlie, and Archie

1 Sister, 1 Sister in Law, and 1 Brother-in-Law----

Ruby Lee Clark, Harriett Crenwelge, Allen Schneider

2 Step Daughters

Deanne Franz and Jason Weatherman, Rhoda Franz and Larry Jarvie

6 Step Grandchildren

Kelsey; Courtney (Russell); Jessica (Evan); Stephanie (Griffin); Jake (Shelby); and Brock

2 Step Great-Grandchildren

Preston and Lilly

And numerous nieces and nephews

Daniel is preceded in death by his parents, mother- and father-in-law, Willie and Norma Schneider; 1st wife - Shirley Schneider Crenwelge; 2nd wife - Gloria Franz Crenwelge; one daughter, Danette Crenwelge Ransleben; 2 sisters -- Genie Voigt and Emily Baethge; 2 brothers -- EJ Crenwelge and Clayton Crenwelge; 3 brothers-in-law -- Jim Clark, Clarence Voigt, and Marion Baethge; 1 sister-in-law -- Susie Schneider; and 1 nephew -- Greg Baethge.

The family received friends on Friday, May 9, from 12-1:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, where a rosary service began at 1:30 p.m., and a Mass of Resurrection at 2 p.m. Interment followed at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery with fellowship following at the St. Mary's Holy Family Center.

In lieu of flowers, please give donations in Daniel's memory to the St. Mary's Marienkirche, Pecan Creek Community Club, Methodist Hill Country Hospice or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Schaetter Funeral Home, Fredericksburg, Texas.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.schaetter.com