In Loving Memory

Gilbert William Janner

Gilbert William Janner
November 25, 1928
June 27, 2018
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Obituary

Gilbert Janner, age 89 and lifelong resident of Washington County, passed away on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at his home with family by his side.

Visitation will be Saturday, June 30th from 5-7 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 1st at 2 p.m. at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill with Pastor Jill Vivroux officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Gilbert William Janner was born November 25, 1928 in the Sun Oil Field to Otto and Elsie (Winkelmann) Janner. He was baptized February 3, 1929 at St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill by Pastor P. Gogolin and confirmed June 20, 1943 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill by Pastor John Striepe. At age 11, the family moved to the Mound Hill Community. He attended Live Oak, Mound Hill, and Burton schools. He graduated from Somerville High School in1946 and from Blinn College in 1948.

At a Luther League volleyball tournament, he met the love of his life, Kathryn Rodenbeck, They were married December 10, 1949 by Pastor P. Gogolin at St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill. They began their farming and ranching legacy. From 1951-1953, he delivered milk seven days a week from local farmers to Bellville. In 1955, he began custom farm work and raised cattle and cotton. In 1957 he managed five ranches and employed several workers. From 1974-1980, he was a salesman at Washington County Tractor Company. Gilbert was elected Washington County Commissioner in May 1984 and served from 1985-1996. He passed his hard work ethics on to his family, while continuing ranch work until just months ago.

Civic involvements and memberships include: chairman for the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Services at age 25; president of the Washington County Fair and with the swine committee, played an integral part in the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo swine sift coming to Washington County; Washington County Farm Bureau director; Concepts of Care; Brazos Valley Development Council; Washington County Soil District; Washington County Wildlife Society; Texas Pork Producers Association; Southwest Cattle Raisers Association; Prairie Hill and Mound Hill Shooting Clubs; charter member and former chief for Gay Hill-Mound Hill-Cedar Hill Volunteer Fire Department. In 1999, he planted cotton for the Burton Cotton Gin, where he was a former director. His honors include: Jefferson Jackson Award from Washington County Democratic Club, induction into the Blinn College Ex-Students Association Hall of Honor in 2008, and several honors and awards from the Texas Judges and County Commissioner’s Association.

Gilbert was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill. Here he served as church council chairman, financial secretary, Sunday School superintendent and was a member of the choir, brotherhood, and cemetery committee.

Gilbert enjoyed baseball, playing cards, dancing, telling jokes and stories. He was always willing to help those in need. He loved his grandkids and great-grandkids and took a special interest in each one. He never missed the Washington County Fair or the opening day of deer season.

He was preceded in death by: parents, infant daughter and brother Eugene Janner.

Surviving loving family includes: wife of 68 years, Kathryn Janner; children and spouses, Carol and John Haarmeyer of Brenham, Kathy and Lee Nordt of Waco, Gil and Michelle Janner of Brenham; grandchildren and spouses, Jeannie(Haarmeyer) and Keith Kroll of Brenham, Holly (Haarmeyer) and Mark Rodriquez of Brenham, Johnna (Haarmeyer) and Tim Mikolajchak of Alvin, Garrison and Elizabeth (McGuire) Nordt of Spring, Kaylee (Nordt) and Jeff Landon of Fort Worth, Bethany Janner, Corbin Janner and Hunter Janner all of Brenham; great grandchildren, Meg Rodriquez, Audra Kroll, John Victor Rodriquez, Myka Mikolajchak, Mabry Mikolajchak and Mayvin Mikolajchak; brothers and sisters-in-law, Otto, Jr. and Christine Janner, Calvin and Judy Janner, Alvin Janner, Joydell Janner, Ruth Rodenbeck , Helen Rodenbeck; numerous other relatives and friends..

Pallbearers will be grandsons: Keith Kroll, Mark Rodriquez, Tim Mikolajchak, Garrison Nordt, Jeff Landon, Corbin Janner, Hunter Janner and John Victor Rodriquez.

Special thanks to Dr. Eric Alford and the numerous caregivers of facilities and agencies who have given excellent care in the past three months.

Memorials are requested to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, Hospice Brazos Valley, Burton Cotton Gin & Museum or the charity of your choice.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX 77833. 979.836.3611 Tributes may be shared at www.BrenhamMemorialChapel.com.