Harold Louis Stiegler, 96, devoted husband and beloved father and grandfather, passed away in Hondo, Texas on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 after a brief illness. He was born November 28, 1912 in Hondo. He was one of eight children of Louis A. Stiegler and Lena Schweers Stiegler. He is preceded in death by his parents, five brothers-- Frank, Edgar, Leslie, Chester and Murrel and two sisters-- Selma Vogel and Hattie Laughinghouse. Harold attended school in Hondo, but went to work full time with his father on the family dairy farm before he graduated from high school. In 1938, he took over the dairy operations, expanded the herd and started one of the first home milk delivery services in Hondo. He closed the dairy in 1946 and spent the remainder of his life as a farmer, but never lost his love for livestock. He raised beef cattle, sheep and hogs and was a regular patron at the Hondo Livestock Auction for many years. He had the uncanny ability to see value in certain sale animals that no one else saw. He also delivered bread for the Fairmaid Bread Co., worked as a butcher at Nester's Market and as a salesperson for the Alamo Lumber Co. After he could no longer actively farm, he enjoyed gardening and riding around on his John Deere Gator. Harold married Julia Mann on July 3rd, 1940 and they moved to his farm where they lived for 68 years. Harold was a life-long member of First United Methodist Church in Hondo and a member of the Herman Sons Lodge. As a farmer and rancher all of his life, he had a great concern for preserving the land and practiced conservation whenever possible. He planted many acres of grass on his ranch south of Hondo and custom planted thousands of acres of Soil Bank land in the mid 1950's. In 1966, he was presented with the Outstanding Farmer-Rancher Conservation Award by the Ft. Worth Press Club and Lions International, and the Hondo Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Conservation Practices in Soil Conservation Award and many other honors. Harold served as a Director for the Southwest Federal Land Bank Association for 19 years and as a Supervisor for the Medina Valley Soil Conservation District for 10 years. He had a kind heart, a unique sense of humor and a deep love for his wife, family and friends. He loved to dance and have a good time. He and Julia were part of "The Bunch" (Gwen, Albert, Charles, Ginger, Henry and Florence) that danced, went to football games and traveled together for many years. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, and two childrena son Dr. James H. Stiegler & wife Connie of Stillwater, Oklahoma and a daughter Connie Shullanberger & husband Zane of Hondo. There are four grandchildren. Stephanie Neill & husband Scott of Flower Mound, TX., J. Christopher Stiegler & wife Jenny of Fayetteville, AR., Corbin Shullanberger & wife Kaprice of New Braunfels, TX., Conor Shullanberger & fiancé Dawn White of New Braunfels, TX. , four great grandchildren, Spencer Neill, Addison Neill, Preston Neill and Brixton Shullanberger. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church in Hondo and officiated by the Reverend Andy Tyson. Pallbearers were J. Chris Stiegler, Corbin Shullanberger, Conor Shullanberger, Scott Neill, Chris Stiegler and C.A. Tondre. Burial will follow at the Hondo Cemetery, WOW Section. The family suggests that memorials be made to either the First United Methodist Church or the Medina Health Care Fund.