Deacon John Joseph Schoellman, 72, of Hondo, passed away peacefully the evening of January 26, 2016, surrounded by wife and children at University Hospital in San Antonio. John was born in Hondo, on Christmas Eve in 1943 to Ben and Caroline Kubesch Schoellman. After serving in the US Navy, John committed 38 years to federal civil service, helping engineer Armed Forces Radio and Television services around the world. After he "retired" in 2002, John dedicated himself fully to farming, family and service to the church. He was ordained a Deacon for St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hondo on May 19, 2007, one of the happiest days of his life. He spent the rest of his life helping others. When asked recently by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio about how long he had been ordained, John replied, "Officially, nine years; but I've been dedicated to deaconate service for more than 40 years." He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Elizabeth Barth and her husband, Emil; brothers-in-law, Garland Tschirhart and Maurice Pettibon; and sister-in-law, JoAnn Tschirhart. Deacon John is survived by his wife of 20 years, Audrey; children, Stacie (Will) Dowis of Gunnison, CO, and Jonathan (Marsha) Schoellman of D'Hanis; step-sons, Ronald Barger of Beaumont and Michael Barger of San Antonio; step-grandchildren, Blake and Braeden Barger; brothers, James (Phyllis) Schoellman and Walter (Carol) Schoellman, all of Hondo; brother-in-law, Rodney (Renee) Tschirhart; sisters-in-law, Mary Pettibon and Arlene (Ernest) Christilles; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. prior to recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 29, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, followed by entombment at Hondo Cemetery, St. John's Mausoleum. The family requests that Deacon John be remembered with memorials to St. John's Building Fund or St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. John's.