Jon Alvin Siemsglusz

On Sunday, November 26th, our beloved Husband, Dad, Pops, and Pastor, Jon Alvin Siemsglusz, 86, was welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior.

Visitation will be from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Memorial Oaks Chapel with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of William Penn. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Jon was the oldest of three boys, born to Alvin Henry Siemsglusz and Alvera Beatrice Oppenheimer Siemsglusz in El Centro, California. He was baptized on January 9, 1938 and confirmed on March 18, 1952 at Grace Lutheran Church. Jon graduated from Central Union High School in El Centro, California on June 2, 1955.

Known to many as Pastor Jon, he began a life of Christian service, ordained as a Lutheran minister in June of 1962, in La Mesa, California. This was following college at San Diego State University (1955-1957) and graduation from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois in May of 1962. Jon's first call was the dual parish of St. James Lutheran Church in Lexington, Texas and Grace Lutheran Church in Rockdale, Texas, which is how he ended up in Texas, along with his first wife, the late Sandra Siemsglusz Hall and son, Mark. His second call was to Grace Lutheran Church here in Brenham in 1968, serving as their Pastor until 1986. Jon married Kathleen Littleton in May of 1986 and together they moved to Baytown, Texas where he was Pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church. After several years living in Baytown, Jon's last call was to Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wiedeville and St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Sandy Hill where he served until his retirement. Following his retirement, he continued to serve Trinity Evangelical Church in Weimar. Jon spent his life sharing the Gospel message of Jesus Christ with whomever he met.

Kathleen and Jon enjoyed gardening and ensuring that their yard and flowers were always immaculate as evidenced by their "yard of the month". They enjoyed traveling and made multiple trips to Hawaii taking each of the grandchildren over the years, trips to Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, France, multiple islands in the Caribbean and to Mexico where Jon officiated his grandson's wedding.

Jon also enjoyed deer hunting, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, golfing, canning pickles and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Jon loved being a part of his children and grandchildren's lives as they were growing up. Memories were made by the treehouse built by Jon. Jon enjoyed riding four-wheelers and playing golf with his grandchildren. One of Jon's favorite things to do was pick up the grandkids from school on Fridays and take them for an ICEE treat before bringing them home to his house to run wild on his five acres in the country. His favorite deer hunt was a trip he and close friend, Victor Arlitt and the rest of the Sanderson Bunch took every Thanksgiving to West Texas. Jon has photos of that bunch having an outdoor worship service at deer camp in their lawn chairs. Jon and his family took many winter vacations to Taos, NM and Durango, CO to snow ski with family that would also come from San Diego. Jon was known for wanting to be the first one in line when the lifts opened and would ski until they shut them down and always pushed the kids to do the same. After moving to Brenham, Jon bought a Thunderbird boat from the Picone's. He used that boat over and over at Lake Somerville mainly helping his kids learn how to ski. But many, many others were taught to ski behind that boat over the years including many young people from the youth groups at the churches he served.

Jon was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Jim Siemsglusz, sister-in-law, Laverne Wellman Siemsglusz, father-in-law, Rex Littleton, Sr., brothers-in-law, Rex Littleton, Jr., Ricky Littleton, and Wendell McWilliams. Survivors include his loving wife of 37 years, Kathleen Siemsglusz, sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Jennifer Siemsglusz, Brian and Sherry Siemsglusz; daughter and son-in-law, Sheryl and Michael Schroeder; step-son and daughter-in-law, Jeramie and Amber Zelenka; step-daughter, Christine Loya; grandchildren, Christopher and Emily Siemsglusz; Catherine and Matt David; Sara and Justin Dreyer; Shelby and Andrew Adams; Shane and Jessy Schroeder; Jordan and Taite Siemsglusz; Bailey Siemsglusz; Laramie, Landon and Landry Zelenka; Abby and Ethan Townsend; and Mia Loya. Great-granchildren, Lincoln and Frances Siemsglusz, Ryder and Lilly David, Hayes and Jack Dreyer; Parker, Lyla and Peyton Adams, Emersyn and Nolan Schroeder, Liam Siemsglusz, Lynen and Braxtan Townsend. Mother-in-law, Wilma Littleton; Brother and sister-in-law, Alan and Myrna Siemsglusz; sisters-in-law, Patricia Siemsglusz, Connie McWilliams, and Debbie Littleton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Christopher Siemsglusz, Shane Schroeder, Jordan Siemsglusz, Matt David, Justin Dreyer, Andrew Adams, Landon Zelenka, Landry Zelenka, and Ethan Townsend.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main St., Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, please visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.