Rod Koenig’s Black Jack Springs Roots Are Showing

Rod Koenig’s family ties to the Black Jack Springs Cemetery west of La Grange go back to his ancestors’ arrival from Germany in the mid-1800s. Photo by Elaine Thomas

The Koenig brothers, Rod (left) and Weldon (right), both served as US naval officers.

Rod Koenig’s Black Jack Springs Roots Are Showing

The Koenig family attended Trinity Lutheran Church at Black Jack Springs, where Mrs. Koenig played the organ for many years. The church was eventually demolished.

Rod’s great-great-grandfather, Thomas Hinrich Oeding, was the first person buried in Black Jack Springs Cemetery in July 1867.

Rod and Weldon Koenig’s uncles, Archie Oeding and Herman “Sam” Koenig, who served on active duty in World War II, fostered the boys’ interest in the US Navy by bringing them home sailor hats.

At the Witte-Schmid House marker dedication in 2018, Texas German Society founders Rodney Koenig (left) and Glenn Guettler (right) were joined by Georg Ulbrich (center), who was serving as the organization’s president. Located in the Schoenau community between Industry and Shelby in Austin County, the 1860 Witte-Schmid Haus was donated to the Texas German Society in 1986 by Annie Schmid and her son, Sanford Schmid.

Rod, top left, was elected president of the 1955 La Grange High School freshman class. He’s standing at left with Kay Hagler (seated), secretary-treasurer; Nancy Yates, reporter (standing); and Ernest ‘Bing’ Kallus, vice president (standing).

Rodney C. Koenig, JAGC, US Navy (retired).

The 1957 La Grange High School Leopard band officers were (left to right): Marilyn Jurajda, treasurer; Rodney Koenig, vice president; Fred Oppermann, parliamentarian; Joe Helen Cronenberger, president; Kay Hagler, secretary; and Carolyn Tolle, reporter.

Rod (center) with his sons, J.T. (left) and Erik (right) pose at the Battleship Texas when Rod served on the commission that oversaw the historic ship’s preservation.

Rod, his parents, John and Elva Koenig and his brother, Weldon, always remained close.

Mary and Rod Koenig enjoy world travel and sing together in church and in the Houston Saengerbund, the city’s oldest musical association. Visiting their second home in La Grange is also high on their list of pursuits.