Roll Call Tribute
Melvin "Louie" Sunderman '65 August 29, 2019 10:48 AM updated: August 29, 2019 10:53 AM
Henneke Funeral Home obituary
1515 Montezuma St
Columbus, TX 78934
(979) 732-2143
Melvin "Louie" Sunderman
May 9, 1943 - August 19, 2019
Melvin Louis Sunderman aka "Louie", 76, of Eagle Lake, TX passed away on August 19, 2019 at Memorial Hermann Hospital Southwest in Houston, TX due to complications from a major back surgery from which he never fully recovered.
Melvin was born in Eagle Lake to Leslie Ray Sunderman and Irene Looper Sunderman on May 9, 1943. He attended school in Eagle Lake and graduated from Eagle Lake High School in 1961. He went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy from Texas A&M University and was a proud member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 1965. He worked as a rice farmer from an early age alongside his Dad. After the untimely death of his father, he took over the farming operation and farmed until 1986. Later he began a career working in seismic operations making many new friendships along the way.
When he wasn't working, Louie enjoyed hunting and fishing. For many years, he was a goose hunting guide for Jimmy Reel, who was the originator of the Texas Rag Spread (the use of white rags as decoys to attract geese). Some of his fondest memories were fishing with his family, whether it be at their lake on the prairie or in Port Mansfield on the Laguna Madre. Louie also had his pilot license and would take his girls on plane rides when they were little. (Rita didn't much care for those rides so she would observe from the ground!) Louie also loved to deer hunt and spent many happy times in Fowlerton and Laredo with his buddies. If he found an arrowhead while deer hunting, the deer hunting was over and the arrowhead hunting began. Louie was the designated cook at deer camp, where biscuits were his specialty. He loved watching the Fightin' Texas Aggies, the Texas Rangers, and the Dallas Cowboys and he loved listening to Ray Price. He was very proud of his girls and their accomplishments and, in his later years, very proud of his grandchildren as well.
Louie was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Irene Sunderman, and his brothers-in-law Michael Bozalina and Marion Hunt.
Louie is survived by his wife of 50 years Rita Dromgoole Sunderman; daughters Leslie Ellis (Eddie) of Boerne, and Sher Krenek (Clint "Shorty") of Eagle Lake; sisters Frances Warfield (Stan) of Eagle Lake, Marilyn Hunt of Hot Springs Village, AR, and Glenda Hollingsworth (Larry) of Wharton; brother Edward Sunderman (Cynthia) of Eagle Lake. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Riley Gott, Sadie Ellis, Ruston Krenek, and Tucker Ellis, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rita, Leslie, and Sher wish to extend their gratitude to their family and friends for their support during this time. Also, special thanks to the medical staff at the Eagle Lake Hospital for their patience and continuous care.
Visitation will be held at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, TX on Friday, August 23, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Lissie. Funeral services will be at the Lissie United Methodist Church in Lissie, TX on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 11:00 AM with Reverend Stan Warfield officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Eagle Lake.
Serving as pallbearers are Chad Sunderman, Kurt Sunderman, Austin Warfield, John Delgado, Jim Wood, Todd Krenek and Larry Dulany. Honorary pallbearers are Chester Bench, John Thomas, Johnny Meitzen, Don Sullins, Wally Gorham, Bob Cook, Johnny Munsch, Al Faichtinger, Justin Bozalina and Colin Warfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 801, Eagle Lake, TX 77434 or a charity of your choice.
Visitation
Henneke Funeral Home
1515 Montezuma St
Columbus, TX 78934
Friday, August 23, 2019
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Lissie United Methodist Church
25527 Franklin St
Lissie, TX 77454
Saturday, August 24, 2019
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Service
Funeral Service
Lissie United Methodist Church
25527 Franklin St
Lissie, TX 77454
Saturday, August 24, 2019
11:00 AM
Interment
Lakeside Cemetery
870 FM 102
Eagle Lake , TX
Memorial Contributions
Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 801
Eagle Lake, TX 77434
1515 Montezuma St
Columbus, TX 78934
(979) 732-2143
Melvin "Louie" Sunderman
May 9, 1943 - August 19, 2019
Melvin Louis Sunderman aka "Louie", 76, of Eagle Lake, TX passed away on August 19, 2019 at Memorial Hermann Hospital Southwest in Houston, TX due to complications from a major back surgery from which he never fully recovered.
Melvin was born in Eagle Lake to Leslie Ray Sunderman and Irene Looper Sunderman on May 9, 1943. He attended school in Eagle Lake and graduated from Eagle Lake High School in 1961. He went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy from Texas A&M University and was a proud member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 1965. He worked as a rice farmer from an early age alongside his Dad. After the untimely death of his father, he took over the farming operation and farmed until 1986. Later he began a career working in seismic operations making many new friendships along the way.
When he wasn't working, Louie enjoyed hunting and fishing. For many years, he was a goose hunting guide for Jimmy Reel, who was the originator of the Texas Rag Spread (the use of white rags as decoys to attract geese). Some of his fondest memories were fishing with his family, whether it be at their lake on the prairie or in Port Mansfield on the Laguna Madre. Louie also had his pilot license and would take his girls on plane rides when they were little. (Rita didn't much care for those rides so she would observe from the ground!) Louie also loved to deer hunt and spent many happy times in Fowlerton and Laredo with his buddies. If he found an arrowhead while deer hunting, the deer hunting was over and the arrowhead hunting began. Louie was the designated cook at deer camp, where biscuits were his specialty. He loved watching the Fightin' Texas Aggies, the Texas Rangers, and the Dallas Cowboys and he loved listening to Ray Price. He was very proud of his girls and their accomplishments and, in his later years, very proud of his grandchildren as well.
Louie was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Irene Sunderman, and his brothers-in-law Michael Bozalina and Marion Hunt.
Louie is survived by his wife of 50 years Rita Dromgoole Sunderman; daughters Leslie Ellis (Eddie) of Boerne, and Sher Krenek (Clint "Shorty") of Eagle Lake; sisters Frances Warfield (Stan) of Eagle Lake, Marilyn Hunt of Hot Springs Village, AR, and Glenda Hollingsworth (Larry) of Wharton; brother Edward Sunderman (Cynthia) of Eagle Lake. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Riley Gott, Sadie Ellis, Ruston Krenek, and Tucker Ellis, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rita, Leslie, and Sher wish to extend their gratitude to their family and friends for their support during this time. Also, special thanks to the medical staff at the Eagle Lake Hospital for their patience and continuous care.
Visitation will be held at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, TX on Friday, August 23, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Lissie. Funeral services will be at the Lissie United Methodist Church in Lissie, TX on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 11:00 AM with Reverend Stan Warfield officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Eagle Lake.
Serving as pallbearers are Chad Sunderman, Kurt Sunderman, Austin Warfield, John Delgado, Jim Wood, Todd Krenek and Larry Dulany. Honorary pallbearers are Chester Bench, John Thomas, Johnny Meitzen, Don Sullins, Wally Gorham, Bob Cook, Johnny Munsch, Al Faichtinger, Justin Bozalina and Colin Warfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 801, Eagle Lake, TX 77434 or a charity of your choice.
Visitation
Henneke Funeral Home
1515 Montezuma St
Columbus, TX 78934
Friday, August 23, 2019
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Lissie United Methodist Church
25527 Franklin St
Lissie, TX 77454
Saturday, August 24, 2019
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Service
Funeral Service
Lissie United Methodist Church
25527 Franklin St
Lissie, TX 77454
Saturday, August 24, 2019
11:00 AM
Interment
Lakeside Cemetery
870 FM 102
Eagle Lake , TX
Memorial Contributions
Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 801
Eagle Lake, TX 77434
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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