Joseph Henry "Bud" Keck

Joseph Henry “Bud” Keck, 92, of Harwood, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013.

He was born Aug, 19, 1920, in Cost, to Roy and Carolina Cowey Keck. Growing up in the era of the Great Depression, Bud worked long hard hours in the cotton fields, tending to the farm and the livestock. Bud enlisted into the Texas National Guard and was put into active service with U.S. Army fighting in the European Theater with Texas-Oklahoma 36th Infantry Division, otherwise known as the “Fighting 36th.” Bud had received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 5 Bronze Stars, the Distinguished Unit Badge, American Defense Service Medal and a Purple Heart for wounds he received on Dec. 15, 1944. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on June 26, 1945.

Bud married Rosemary Kuntschik on Sept. 18, 1945, in Gonzales. They moved to Beaumont where Bud drove a school bus for 25 years for the Beaumont ISD. Upon moving back to Harwood, Bud drove a bus for the Gonzales ISD for a few years, but his love was working cattle and he retired from the school system to help other ranchers work and tend their cattle. Bud was a very active member in the Gonzales American Legion and was a member of the Gonzales VFW. Bud put a great deal of effort in helping to bring the Gonzales County Veterans Memorial to fruition – a memorial that is truly long overdo to commemorate the many Gonzales veterans that unselfishly and bravely gave their time and sadly their lives to fight for the liberty of our country, it’s allies and the freedoms we still enjoy today because of these great men and women.

Bud was a hardworking man and a no-nonsense father. He’d been through the hard times of the Depression and the nightmares of war, and he raised his family with the same values he had learned through life’s trials. But all that went out the window with his grandchildren, oh, how he loved the babies. He enjoyed his time with his grandchildren and found a deep sense of grace sitting on the porch in the evening just watching the chickens and the animals satisfied that as the sun set, all was well.

Bud Keck is survived by his daughters and son-in-laws Marlene and John Nolte II of Sour Lake, and Kathy and George Davis of Harwood, sisters Jessie Bos of Lumberton and Hester Behlen of Cost, brother Johnnie Keck of West Columbia, grandchildren Tammie Nolte, John Nolte III, Stephanie Meyers, Joseph Nolte, Michael Keck and Matthew Davis, and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 54 years Rosemary Keck, his parents, son Henry Lynn Keck, and daughter Carolyn Marie Leggett.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 18, in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home 9-10 a.m. Memorials may be made to the Gonzales County Veterans Memorial Association, 562 CR 238, Gonzales 78629. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.