Roll Call Tribute

Leonard Allen Tschirhart
July 8, 1932 - October 30, 2022

Leonard Allen Tschirhart was born on July 8, 1932, in San Antonio, Texas to Allen Nicholas Tschirhart and Alta Hileman Tschirhart. He entered the presence of his Lord on October 30, 2022, passing peacefully at home, surrounded by his children.

He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Ottmers Tschirhart, brothers Wilbert and Harold, sister Norma Vorpahl, and son-in-law Billy Hobbs. He is survived by his sister, Janice Uptmore.

His eight children are Gary Tschirhart (Tricia), Mike Tschirhart (Becky), Patti Keith (Sam), Jeff Tschirhart (Lisa), Lori Dawson, Julie Marshall, Pam Tschirhart, and Kristi Hobbs. He has 17 grandchildren: Justin, Trey, Michael, Tara, Lance, Alyssa, Brittany, Adam, Katie, Lane, Kyle, Kara, Cole, Caroline, Tate, Andrew, and Keely; 16 great-grandchildren, and 27 nieces and nephews.

Dad was an inspirational and loving father. We are joyful and honored to share a bit of his story.

Leonard was a proud member of the Texas A&M Corp of Cadets (Class of ‘55) and graduated with a double degree in Civil Engineering and Architecture. He was a lifelong member of the Board of Professional Engineers and served his community as a member of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Joseph’s choral group “San Antonio Liederkranz”.

After grade school at St. Ann’s, Leonard pleaded with his mom to let him attend Central Catholic High School. He assured her he’d make good grades, pay part of his way by working small jobs, and make her proud. At Central, Leonard had perfect attendance and made the Honor Roll. He was in R.O.T.C, sang in the Glee Club, and won his school’s boxing championship. He was elected Senior Class President and captain of the football team. His mom remarked “Well, I guess he did it!”

While completing his degrees at Texas A&M, Leonard married his little sister’s best friend, Shirlie Grant, former homecoming queen at Central’s sister high school. Shirlie and Leonard lived in Bryan, Texas and welcomed their first-born. Dad paid for part of his college by working in the civil engineering workshop on campus making Texas Historical Marker signs for Texas highways. We will always think of him when we see these markers along the roads. After graduating, he spent four years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, working in Galveston, Texas, then Kelly AFB.

At age 27, with four children, Leo began his lifelong career as a self-employed contractor, designing, building and remodeling homes. Never having to advertise, his reputation for honesty, workmanship, and professionalism spread rapidly, allowing him means to provide for his family. In later years, he created opportunities to own a home for those who were otherwise unable. With a caring and generous nature, he was loath to give up on anyone facing hardship. To this day, we hear stories from former workers, suppliers, clients, and friends, of his kindness, generosity, and selflessness.

At age 32, Leonard and Shirlie were raising seven children and were active parishioners of Blessed Sacrament Church. He built a 4,200 square foot, single-story home at 107 Barbara that was quite remarkable for the day. It was featured in San Antonio Express News’ “Living”. Each December brought the much anticipated post-Christmas party thrown for family and friends with a cast of hundreds! As his children grew into their teenage years at Robert E. Lee, the “Tschirhart parties” became popular events. Mom and Dad enjoyed sharing their home!

On Leonard’s 36th birthday, he was gifted with another daughter, the youngest of eight. Dad was a man of few words, except when it came to his children. He had pet names for each that he continued to use until his passing: Gary Tiger, Mikey Monkey, Pittipat, Jeffy Bug, LaLa, JuJu, Pammie Soup, and Krispy. Dad was a dedicated and hard-working father. He was up by 6 a.m. to bid projects and draft plans in his home office before heading out to meet his crew. His days started early so he could be home for dinner, attend family activities and events, or coach his sons’ CYO baseball teams.

Leo never retired, but he made time to travel with his brother Harold and Friendship Force International, where he served as president and met his wife, Elizabeth. Together, they visited a multitude of countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Among his many adventures, he zip-lined in Costa Rica and bungee-jumped in New Zealand at the age of 75! He loved history and culture, especially studying various building techniques of different civilizations. He loved the outdoors, spending long weekends in the Hill Country at the Ottmers’ ranch, where he, in his seventies, constructed limestone patios, and single-handedly built a cinder block garage. At the late age of 85, he was still scurrying up ladders and repairing roofs!

He was involved in our lives at every turn, from Boy Scouts to Indian Princess, from every sport to a host of activities, including recitals, baton twirling, and geode hunting. After years of vacationing at the Frio River, our weekends as children were spent at the lake houses dad built us - first at Cypress Cove, later at Lake LBJ. The treehouse and deck were our favorites, where on clear nights he taught us about constellations and the universe. We learned to ski in the Guadalupe River, where dad fixed the old wooden boat every time it broke! In later years, he led a carpentry workshop for his grandson’s troop. While visiting the children’s orphanage in Africa established by his youngest daughter, he taught each child how to shake hands firmly and look people in the eye, a skill he said they’d need later in life.

It was important to Dad that we eat together as a family, so he built a large table to accommodate us all. Each night ended with kneeling around one of our beds where he led us in nighttime prayer. It was then back to his office down the hall! On weekends, he often turned “auto mechanic” and somehow kept our seven old cars running as we held the light and fetched his tools. He remarkably retained all he learned at A&M and continued to accumulate knowledge throughout his life. He taught us carpentry, painting, electrical, plumbing, roofing, tiling, landscaping, mechanics, and a host of other skills. We made school science projects based on electrical circuits and the buoyancy of objects in fluids! He pulled our teeth and cut our hair. He taught us how to build a fire, throw a ball, hold a hammer, and how to be gentle men and lovely ladies.

Without complaint or regret, dad fought a courageous health battle over the last two years, surprising his doctors along the way. We cherish the moments spent with him during this precious time. We are grateful for his saintly caregivers Sonia, Elizabeth, Laura, and Jeannette.

He was a man with faults, like all, but lived to hand us a good name according to one of his favorite poems: “You got it from your Father, it was all he had to give. It’s yours to use and cherish as long as you may live…. Make sure you guard it wisely, after all is said and done, you’ll be glad the name is spotless when you give it to your son.”

We thank God for our dad who modeled his heavenly Father as best he could and passed on gifts that can never be repaid.