Zoch

Funeral services for Thelma Zoch, 93 of Winchester, are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester with Rev. Nate Hill officiating.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Zoch family requests that community members listen to the service from their cars to allow the family to be socially distanced inside the church. A private family committal service will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2021 from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Sunday, March 28, 2021 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.

Thelma L. Zoch was born on Nov. 4, 1927 in Winchester to Robert and Selma (Zimmermann) Pietsch. She was baptized on Nov. 5, 1927 by Rev. Erich Moebus and confirmed on April 6, 1941 by Rev. E.R. Rathgeber at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester. Her confirmation verse was Psalm 86:11, “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” She attended St. Michael’s Lutheran School through the 8th grade.

On Nov. 19, 1946, she was united in marriage to Anton Martin “Mac” Zoch at St. Michael’s by Rev. E.R. Rathgeber. She was a homemaker until her children were grown. Thelma went to work as a waitress at Green Lantern Café, Pinewood Inn Restaurant, and Cottonwood Inn. Later she worked as a seam stress at Invader Boat Factory in Giddings. She enjoyed working in her garden and planting flowers, playing dominoes and card games, and family get togethers for birthdays and holidays. Most of all she enjoyed fishing on the river. She made the best coffee cake and homemade noodles. She was a lifelong member of St. Michael’s. Thelma taught Sunday School and was a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League where she served as president, secretary, and treasurer.

Thelma passed away at her home in Winchester the morning of Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Selma Pietsch; stepmother, Hulda Pietsch; husband of 62 years, Mac Zoch; daughter, Judy Fritsche and son-in-law Stanley Fritsche; two sisters, Mildred Lehmann and Louise Lehmann, and two brothers, Anton Pietsch and Wilbert Pietsch.

Thelma is survived by her four children, Darline and Robert Hamff of Winchester, Susan and Jim Ephraim of Katy, Wayne and Debbie Zoch of Cedar Creek, and Tami and Edwin Pietsch of La Grange; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Fritsche of La Grange; fifteen grandchildren, Pam Kaiser, Gina Marek, Dawn Werner, Kimberly O’Farrell, Jennifer Stringer, Heather Slauenwhite, Jason Ephraim, Monica Burton, Natalie Hargis, Jeremy Pietsch, Shane Pietsch, Amanda Medders, Jared Zoch, Lenny Lehmann, and Melissa Pinter; 17 great-grandchildren; brother, Norbert and Ruth Pietsch of Houston; sister, Leatrice Haney of Jacksonville; sister-in-law, Delores Pietsch of Hewitt; her very special care giver, Cheyenne Maldonado, and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Lutheran Church or the St. Michael’s Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund.

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