Pietsch

Funeral services for James P. Pietsch, 85 of Ledbetter, were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Giddings with Rev. John Waak officiating. Burial followed in the Carmine Cemetery in Carmine.

James Paul Pietsch was born on July 29, 1935 at his family’s home in Waldeck. He was the son of Paul and Irene (Weber) Pietsch. He was baptized at home on Aug. 8, 1935 and confirmed on Aug. 8, 1948 at Waldeck Lutheran Church. His confirmation memory verse was Matthew 10:32, “Whosoever shall confess before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” James attended the Round Top-Carmine school. He started farming and ranching at the young age of 16 with his first “real” job being working at the Emmrich Mill in Giddings.

James was united in marriage to Shirley Hackemack on Aug. 24, 1957 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine. In 1959, James began working for Cargill Nutrena in Giddings. He started out as a mill worker, then as a truck driver, and eventually a mill foreman. In 1980, he went to work for Jaeger’s Inc., the John Deere dealer in Giddings. He enjoyed making friends while delivering tractors for Jaeger’s and fondly remembered those deliveries including a tractor delivery to then Texas governor, Mark White.

James had been an active member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Giddings where he had served as a member of the church council and head usher of his usher team. He was a member of the North Central Fayette County Wildlife Management Association and enjoyed attending the meetings where he socialized with his fellow members. He enjoyed fishing and loved telling stories of the many fishing trips he made with his dad and grandfather at the river. He also enjoyed deer hunting at a friend’s lease in Fredericksburg.

James passed away the evening of Monday, May 3, 2021 in an Austin hospital.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; and his sister and brother-in-law, Mamie and Milton Roemer.

James is survived by his wife, Shirley Pietsch of Ledbetter; three children, Cindy and Ben Droemer of Giddings, Gary and Cheryl Pietsch of Giddings, and Lori Carmona of Park City, Utah; seven grandchildren, Aubrey and Jason Trbovich of Houston, Nik and Lori Droemer of Magnolia, Aaron and Jen Droemer of Ft. Worth, Benjamin Droemer of Giddings, Annie Pietsch of San Antonio, Lucy Pietsch of San Marcos, and Lillie Pietsch of Giddings; three great grandchildren, Jaxyn and Charley Alice Droemer of Magnolia and Harrison Droemer of Fort Worth; one brother-in-law, Aubrey Hackemack of McQueeney, and a favorite nephew, Rickey Roemer of Ledbetter.

Pallbearers were Nik Droemer, Aaron Droemer, Benjamin Droemer, Jason Trbovich, Jim Jaeger, and Rickey Roemer. Honorary pallbearers will be Alton Moellering, Danny Moellering, Raymond Schulze, and Alois Jaeger.

Memorials may be made to the Martin Luther Lutheran Day School, 573 North Main Street, Giddings, Texas 78942 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.