Henry Louis Stiegler, beloved father and grandfather, passed away Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at his home in Hondo after a short illness. He was born in Hondo on Oct. 16, 1918, to Edgar Henry and Ella Millie (Frerichs) Stiegler and was a fifth generation of several pioneer Medina County ranching and farming families. He is preceded in death by his wife, Florence Ruth (Zuberbueler) Stiegler; his parents; brother, Ralph C. Stiegler; and grandson-in-law, Michael Lichtenfeldt. Henry graduated from Hondo High School in 1938 and worked at Fly Drug Co. for several years. On Jan. 27, 1940, he and his high school sweetheart, Florence, were married. Henry spent the next 64 years, with Florence by his side, farming and cattle ranching in the Hondo area. His CB moniker back then was "Little Hay Hauler" and many remember the sight of his old green truck piled high with hay. Henry was a great cook, too, following in the footsteps of his parents, who owned the Favorite Cafe in Hondo during and after WWII. Henry and his great helper, Perty Esquivel, made many a pie, cake, as well as Thanksgiving turkey and dressing, for his family, plus tons of Christmas cookies. Henry was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Hondo for 69 years. He served as usher and was on the Steering Committee, a precursor to the Parish Council on which he served as president for a number of years. He was instrumental in getting a new rectory and church built for St. John's Parish as well as the Mausoleum at the cemetery. He was a member of the Grand Lodge, Sons of Hermann, since 1947 and received his 60 year pin in 2007. He also served as president of the Hondo Lodge for 11 years and was a member of the Grand Lodge Laws Committee for eight years. He dearly loved to play pitch after the meetings. Henry also served as election judge for the City of Hondo for about 30 years. He and Florence played Rook every week for years with special friends, and they both loved to dance and did this throughout their lives with a special group of friends known to all of us as "The Bunch." The Bunch (Charles and Ginger, Albert and Gwen, Harold and Julia, and Henry and Florence) also had season tickets to Hondo High football games for 50 years and attended every out-of-town game that was played during that time. Henry was a member and president of the Medina County Wildlife Association and a member of the Quihi Gun Club since the 1940s. He is survived by his daughter, Karen Stiegler Winship and son-in-law, Dan Winship of Corpus Christi; four grandchildren, David Winship and wife Darla, Jennifer Winship Belcher and Sheri Winship Hilliard and husband Grant, all of Corpus Christi, and Debra Winship Lichtenfeldt of Galveston; six great-grandchildren, Whitnee Winship Sutton and husband Jason, Haleigh Belcher, Nathan Hilliard, Stephanie Gibson, Ashley Hilliard and Brittany Hilliard; and two great-great-grandchildren, Noelle Gibson and Brayson Sutton; sisters, Gerry Stiegler Schneider of Hondo and Doris Stiegler Biry and husband Joe of San Antonio; uncle and aunt, Harold and Julia Stiegler of Hondo; and many nieces and nephews. Also, he is survived by the one person who helped him through the last seven years of his life, Perty Esquivel, and her great family. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, with the Rosary recited at 7 p.m., at Guinn-Horger Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Pallbearers are David Winship, Grant Hilliard, Chris Stiegler, Scott Belcher, James "Chick" Tschirhart and Howard Saathoff. Interment will be at Hondo Cemetery, St. John's Section.