Roll Call Tribute

Henry John Burg 
December 25, 1937 - April 21, 2023 

Mr. Henry J. Burg of Stonewall, Texas passed away on Friday, April 21st at the age of 85.

“Henry J.” was born at the Keidel Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg, Texas on Christmas Day, 1937, to Simon John and Anita E. Hartmann Burg.

Henry J. is survived by his wife, Brenda G. Burg, and his daughters; Lesa Straw (Larry); Lori Cummings (Gene); Lynette Anderson; and Jessica Robertson (Ben). Henry J. is also survived by his stepson, Tony Barnes and stepdaughter, Monica Brown (Neal). Henry J. has 6 grandchildren, 12 bonus grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and 5 bonus great grandchildren.

Henry J. was the oldest of six children and is also survived by his brother, Charles Burg (Bonnie); brother, Frederick Burg (Bernice); sister, Arlene Weidenfeller; sister, Linda Metsger (Grant); and brother, Floyd Burg (Karla).

He is preceded in death by his mother (Anita Hartmann Burg) and father (Simon John Burg).

Henry J. grew up in Stonewall, Texas where he helped to raise his 5 siblings and worked on the family farm. Henry J. grew up mowing Lyndon B. Johnson’s property. He also worked at the Hill Country Fruit Growers Co-Op founded in 1948 that eventually became Burg’s Corner in Stonewall, Texas.

Henry J. graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Fredericksburg, Texas in 1956. In high school, he participated in numerous activities and clubs, including; Altar Boy, Boy Scouts, Class Vice President, Football, Baseball, and Theater. Henry J. was also very involved with 4-H and showed animals at many livestock shows across the state with his family.

Following his senior year, he attended Texas A&M University where he was a proud member of The American Foundry Society, Industrial Education Society, and also a member of the Hill Country HTC. While at Texas A&M, he also was a proud member of the A&M Corps of Cadets.

Henry J. took a leave of absence from college to serve our country in the Army. He served Honorably overseas, in Germany, from May 1957 to October 1962. He returned home and graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science from the Institute of Technology on May 25, 1963. Henry J. also received a diploma from the National Radio Institute in Advance Color Television Servicing in 1971 and held a certificate of Training for Detroit Diesel Engines.

After graduation, Henry J. moved back to Stonewall and helped to run the Simon J. Burg Sprayer Co. for the next 15 years, which serviced and supplied agricultural spraying equipment and supplies for farmers across the state.

He then sold his shares in the business to two of his brothers, and started his own lumber company ‘Henry’s Schnitzlebank’ around 1980.

Henry J. had a passion and love for old lumber and reclaiming its beauty. He was a man that could do anything, including building his own house from the bottom up with stones collected from the Hill Country. He had expert skills in custom woodworking, antique furniture refinishing, cabinetry, and finish carpentry. His beautifully handcrafted custom pieces of furniture and woodwork can be found throughout the Hill Country in many historical and high-end homes.

Henry J. was known to always be out tinkering in his workshop. He went to Knopps Nursing Home for memory care in June of 2021. Even while at Knopps Nursing Home, he was known to tinker and take apart the televisions to fix them.

His other hobbies throughout the years included, hunting, pickin’ his guitar during his Luckenbach days (before it was famous), building custom furniture, cooking, fishing, and entertaining while having a cold one with friends. Throughout the years Henry J. was a member of the Gillespie County Peach Growers Association, Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department, Stonewall Chamber of Commerce, and Gillespie County Fair Association. He helped to design and draw all the architectural drawings for the Stonewall Rodeo Arena, which is still in use today. Henry was an active troop leader in Stonewall for the Boy Scouts for several years, during his young adult life.

Many people looked up to Henry J. throughout his lifetime, both as a mentor and a father-figure. He will be missed by numerous family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Henry J. Burg on May 6th, from 2pm-5pm at the Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department. We will start with a short dedication at 2pm, with come and go visitation to follow.

Donations can be made in Henry J. Burg’s name to the Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department and the Stonewall Heritage Society.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com 

Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Schaetter Funeral Home.