Arthur August Priesmeyer

Arthur August Priesmeyer, 97, passed away peacefully at his home on March 30, 2024, just 48 days after his wife Gracie, gained her angel wings. He was born July 22, 1926, in El Campo to the late Arthur Eugene and Ella Vackar Priesmeyer. He grew up in El Campo and attended school there until he enlisted in the military at the age of 17. He served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II from June 1944 to October 1946, where he was an Aerial Engineer and worked on B-25 aircrafts. His love for music and playing musical instruments started early, as he played the saxophone in the Air Force band. After his discharge in 1946, he came back to El Campo to farm rice with his father and brother, Clarence. Shortly after coming back home, he met and fell in love with Gracie Naiser. (I'm sure we all know the story of how these two met, as he loved to share it). They were married on June 11, 1951, back when weddings started in the morning and lasted to late night. Together they raised five children and were blessed to celebrate 72 years of marriage together.
He shared a love of rice farming and raising cattle with his three sons. If you let him, he would work every day of the week, but always had time for his nap after lunch and time for God on Sundays. If he wasn't on the farm, you would find him working on antique tractors, listening to polka music, dancing, leading grand marches with Gracie, playing the accordion, hunting, telling stories (and boy did he have a lot), and of course, drinking a cold one. Apart from his love for his children, he had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always enjoyed when they would come to see him.
Arthur was active in various organizations including the El Campo Horseman's Riding Club, Knights of Columbus, and American Legion Post 251. He was a board member of Rice Farmers Coop, Farmers Coop of El Campo (United Ag.), Wharton County Soil and Water Conservation, Wharton County Ground Water and was a County and State officer for the Texas Farmers Union in support of saving the family farm.
He is survived by his children, A.J. Priesmeyer (Susie) of El Campo, Annette Cornett (Jack) of Blessing, Terry Priesmeyer (Cynthia) of El Campo, Sharon Hicks (Brian) of Ganado, and Lester Priesmeyer (Deidra Becker) of El Campo. Grandchildren; Krystal Brod (Josh), Kyndal Krenek (Travis), Ty Priesmeyer (Karissa), Anisa Cornett, Anna Brown (Derek), Grant Cornett (Anna Marie), Ross Priesmeyer (Lindsey), Chelsey Priesmeyer, B.J. Hicks (Kim), Dustin Hicks (Katy), Kandace Friedrichs (Brent), Colton Priesmeyer, and 21 great-grandchildren. Sister-in-laws; Bettie Konvicka, Anita Janicek, Alice Mae Blaha and Diana Orsak. Brother-in-laws; Jimmy Naiser (Annette) and Rudy Naiser (Dorothy).
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gracie; brother, Clarence Priesmeyer; sister, Ruby Jean Rod and husband, Andrew, and grandson, Wyatt Cornett.
Visitation will be Thursday April 4, 2024 at St Philips Catholic Church in El Campo from 4 - 7pm with a Rosary to be recited at 7pm.
Funeral Mass will be Friday, April 5, 2024, 10:30am at St Philip Catholic Church in El Campo. Burial to immediately follow at Holy Cross Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Grandsons, B.J. Hicks, Dustin Hicks, Ross Priesmeyer, Ty Priesmeyer, Colton Priesmeyer, Josh Brod, Travis Krenek, and Brent Friedrichs. Honorary pallbearers are Evan Hicks, Wayne Priesmeyer and Glenn Rod.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St. Philips Catholic Church, St. Philips School Endowment Fund or Houston Hospice-El Campo.
A Special Than You to Father Dalton; Caregivers; Lucy Rodriquez, Patty Munoz, Betty Cortez, Veva Hernandez, Cindy Koehn, Mark Merta and Houston Hospice-El Campo.
Arrangements are under the direction of Triska Funeral Home in El Campo