Cleburn Henry Roecker died on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at the age of 89 years.
He was born on August 28, 1934, in Belmont, Texas to Henry and Meta (Giesick) Roecker. He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Charlene Roecker Green, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bertha and Alfred Mattke, sisters-in-law, Rosalie Mattke, and Evelyn Friedeck and husband Helmuth, brothers-in-law, Leroy Mattke and wife Irene, James Cheatham, Charlie Mollenhauer, and Anthony (Tony) Baer.
Survivors include his loving wife of 69 years, Gladys (Mattke) Roecker; daughter, Karen Lynn Roecker Hartmann of Tomball, Tx.; Randall William Roecker (Annette) of Belmont; grandchildren, Michelle (Roecker) Barbee (Benjamin), Dustin Green, Dina Green Nall, Kaitlyn Hartmann, Travis Hawkins (Chelsea), and Wendy Hawkins Frazier (Tim); great-grandchildren, Sterling, Kailey and Grant Barbee. Micah, Elijah and Judah Nall, Cory Hawkins and Brahm Hawkins; brother, Norman Roecker (Martha Raye); sisters, Shirley (Roecker) Grigg and Marjorie (Dollie Roecker) Baer; sisters-in-law, Irene Cheatham and Betty Mollenhauer; numerous nieces and nephews, other loving family members and many friends.
He attended and was very proud to have been in the last graduating class of the historical Dowdy High School. He furthered his education by attending Durham Business College in San Antonio.
He spent his entire adult life in the tractor business. He had a real appreciation for tractors and the differences they made in farming and ranching, which may have started when his father took him, as a child, to Gonzales to see one of the first tractors built, or later when his father purchased his first iron wheel tractor.
Cleburn first worked for Ewald Tractor Company as their accountant, but he learned so much more selling and ordering parts, as well as, selling tractors and equipment, customer service and equipment appraisals. Later he purchased T&E Tractor Company. He built his own building on Kingsbury Street where he became the Massey Ferguson dealer in Seguin for many years. After selling the dealership, he had a tractor repair and sales business, Seguin Tractor Sales and Rentals, until he retired for health reasons at the age of 80.
In his early years he enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards and dominos, and cooking. He was very active in the community; he coached little league and was overjoyed when their team became city champions for 2 years and the entire team went to the Astrodome each year in Houston for an Astro’s Game.
He was always willing to help with the Vocational Tractor Mechanics program, when it was taught at Seguin High School, donating many tractors and parts. He hired many of the young students who completed that course. He spent many years on the Vocational Education Board at the High School.
He was on the Guadalupe County Fair and Rodeo Board for many years, where he earned a lifetime membership. On his years with the Fair Board, he also helped put together the first tractor pull in Seguin.
He was a charter member of the rural water company and later served on their Board. He was also a supporter of the local Youth Show. He received Agri-Business Award from the Seguin Chamber of Commerce.
He and Gladys loved to talk about their Family Tree. They collected old family photos and attended many family reunions. If you ever attended a local wedding, you probably saw Cleburn and Gladys leading The Grand March at the wedding celebration or waltzing across Texas and dancing the Beer Barrel Polka. He was quite the dancer. He loved to travel whenever he could. He would go to many areas including, Mexico City, Beaumont, Houston, Eagle Pass, Colorado, Florida and Louisiana, but most of all, loved visiting with family and friends. He always loved to help cook for holidays and get-togethers!
After retirement he enjoyed watching the news and football on TV, checking his cattle and other animals on his farm south of Seguin, and he was always ready to give advice and share thoughts. We always enjoyed listening to his stories about his childhood and early adulthood. He always tried to take care of his family and put their needs before his own.
Viewing and visitation will be on Thursday, July 25, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Tres Hewell Mortuary with services to follow on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 10:00 am at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel with the Reverend Marcus Bigott officiating. Interment will follow at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Don Baer, Benjamin Barbee, Sterling Barbee, Micah Nall, Dwayne Mattke, and Justin Cheatham.
Honorary Pallbearers will be all past employees of T&E Tractor Company and/or Seguin Tractor Sales; Alton Mattke, Bobby Mollenhauer and Roger Friedeck.
Memorials may be given in his honor to Emanuel’s Lutheran Church, 206 N. Travis Street, Seguin, Texas 78155.
You are invited to sign the guest book at www.treshewell.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Dr., Seguin, Texas, 78155, 830-549-5912.