James Orene Fehner

James Orene Fehner, 86, passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2017. James was born August 4, 1930 at home in Cheapside, Texas to Adolph Fehner, Jr. and Erna Maris Fehner. He married Dolores Marilyn Christen on February 5, 1951 in Gonzales with merely one dollar and forty-six cents in his pocket. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 5090, Elks Lodge B.P.O.E., Hermann Sons Lodge, the Independent Cattlemen’s Association and the Texas Feed and Grain Association.

James was born and raised in the Cheapside area where he attended school and worked alongside his family until at the age of 15 he moved to LaMarque to work for the Carbide and Carbon Plant. After marrying Dolores Christen on the 5^th of February in 1951 he was inducted into the U.S. Army in March of 1951. Originally he was stationed in Ft. Hood before he was reassigned to Germany as Germany became the primary potential battleground for World War III and U.S. troop levels tripled from 1950 to 1953. Many times James took guard duty on the Russian line with only three bullets for his weapon which he shared with the guard that followed him on duty. These were tenuous times as the U.S. and allied soldiers were fighting and dying in Korea and the Cold War with Russia was seemingly a step away from cataclysmic world destruction. After his honorable discharge from the Army, James came back to Gonzales and went to work for Otis Fehner’s egg business and he farmed as well. He caught chickens and trucked them for processing at night. James started Fehner Bulk Service while working at the Boothe Feed Mill all the while working long hours raising his own chickens. Before long he became a stockholder in Holmes Foods and founded Fehner and Son Grain Company in 1986 were he continued to work until April 7, 2017. He had a tremendous business acumen and an amazing memory for details. James wore many hats in his working career; one of his favorites was that of a cattle rancher. He was very proud of his Brangus cattle and Angus bulls and especially his tiger stripe cows, clearly all were well fed with Fehner and Son feed and cubes.

His daughters Karen and Sheila fondly share that James was the strongest and bravest man they’ve ever known. He was an amazing father and grandfather. His grandchildren called him “B” for no known reason other than possibly it was an abbreviation for him being the Best. James’ world with all its memberships, businesses and ancillary duties associated with both focused first and foremost around family. It was as if singer Bryan Adams sang James’ mantra to his family in “Everything I do, I do it for you.” He raised his children to be strong, hardworking, independent and respectful of others. James was always very clear with his thoughts and imparted the same no nonsense communication proficiency to his children as well as his quick wit and “intelligent derrière” (not exactly his words) quips he was popularly known to freely share. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed hearing and sharing a good joke. James loved to fish the coastal waters for speckled trout, red fish and flounder. He delighted in pheasant hunting the plains of Kansas and showing up the native Kansas boys in limiting out before they came close. He would always take his wife Delores out to her deer blind early in the morning during deer season and feverishly pray she didn’t shoot anything he would have to process later all by himself. James took his family to H-5 Lake every weekend for barbequing, swimming, boating, skiing, fishing and dominoes, making memories of good times that will forever bring smiles. He adored playing with his grandchildren and getting down on the floor to play with his great-grandchildren creating timeless bonds of love. James enjoyed a good meal, especially if someone else was doing the cooking, so he ate out quite a bit and relished Sunday breakfasts prepared by his son-in-law Keith complete with pancakes and thick cut bacon. He cherished time with his son Jimmy as they made the rounds feeding and checking on the cattle. James loved to go for a drive with his dear friend and companion Arva Nell Needham, in doing so they saw all forty-nine continental states of America together. Other than family, work and the simple life pleasures he enjoyed, it was his faith, his love in attending Saturday evening mass wherever he might find himself that fed his soul and the morning coffee group complete with longtime friends that made him look forward to the next Saturday night mass.

James O. Fehner is survived by his adoring family, daughters, Karen Fehner of New Braunfels, Sheila Elstner (Keith) of Gonzales, son, Jimmy Fehner (Betty) of Gonzales, grandchildren, Kimberly Shelton Ochs (Shane), John Taber Shelton (Lisa), Brandon James Fehner (Stephanie), Michael “Shane” Walshak (Stephanie), Bradley Jacob Fehner, Courtney Nicole Welfel (Richard), Christen Danett Ince (Michael) great-grandchildren, Amberliegh, Brayden, Landon, Taber, Colton, Barrett, Phinn, Sawyer, and Kimber. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sisters, Joyce Meyer, Ruby Barosh and his special friend and companion, Arva Nell Needham.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18 in St. James Catholic Church. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 19 in St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Paul Raaz as celebrant. Interment will follow in Hermann Sons Cemetery. Pallbearers: John Shelton, Brandon Fehner, Shane Walshak, Bradley Fehner, Richard Welfel, Michael Ince, Shane Ochs, and Barry Boothe. Honorary pallbearers are the balance of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday evening in St. James Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund or St. James Catholic Church. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family on-line at www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.