Paul J. Themer

Paul John Themer, long-time resident at 605 Maple Avenue in Forney, Texas, was born on February 24, 1916, to William H. and Meta Willms Themer in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and was baptized on March 19, 1916, in Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kingfisher, where he was also Confirmed on May 24, 1931. His education record was 8th Grade Graduation on June 1, 1928, Junior High Graduation on May 15, 1929, and High School Graduation on May 19, 1932, all in Kingfisher. He attended St. Johns Junior College in Winfield, Kansas, and Oklahoma A&M (now OSU) in Stillwater, Oklahoma. His military career included 3½ years with the Headquarter Squadron Tactical Air Command of the Army of the United States during World War II from April 9, 1942, until his Honorable Discharge as a Technical Sergeant on October 30, 1945, at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Most of his duty was in various locations in Europe. Paul Themer was married on December 28, 1949, to Marian Clara Schroeder at St John Lutheran Church in Okarche, Oklahoma, and the two then made their home in Forney, Texas, in the old Hospital Apartments, while the construction of their home on Maple Avenue was taking place. He was employed by Southland Athletic Manufacturing Company (originally located in Forney until 1953) of Terrell, Texas, for approximately 40 years, retiring a little before his 70th Birthday. He was an active member of several Lutheran Congregations early in life and joined Grace Lutheran Church, Dallas, soon after moving to Texas in 1947. Not long after the birth of their first child, Paul and Marian joined Hope Lutheran Church, a beginning congregation near Jim Miller Road in Dallas. Years later they helped to found Our Savior Lutheran Church in Rockwall, Texas, and then Water of Life Lutheran in Forney, Texas, where Paul actively attended until his death. Among his many duties in the churches were President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Elder, Trustee, and (his special love) Evangelism Committee Member. He also held offices in area and Lone Star District divisions of the International Lutheran Laymens League. Paul Themer was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Meta Themer; bother, William (Bill) Themer; two-year-old sister, Martha Ann Themer; brothers-in-law, Howard Byrns, Arthur Holtsclaw, Arthur Latham, Edwin Pray, and Donald Rindt. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marian Themer; sisters Pauline Latham, Marie Pray, and Dorothea Rindt, all of Wichita, Kansas; and brother, Arthur Themer and wife, Sharlene, of Kingfisher, Oklahoma; also, son, Don Themer and wife, Vivian; grandsons, Weston and Waylon Themer and wife, Mary Anne, all of Forney, Texas; also daughter, Ann Moreau and husband, Bob; granddaughters, Simone and Nicole Moreau, all of Coppell, Texas; and grandson William (Will) Themer and wife, Holley, of Frisco, Texas. He is also survived by his great-granddaughter, Kherington, daughter of Will and Holley. Needless to say, she brought a thumbs up and a big smile, even though Paul was hospitalized at the time. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and their families, and many, many special friends. Community activities and offices included being a member of Southlands softball team, Charter member of the original Forney Lions Club, terms on the F. I. S. D. School Board and on the Forney City Council, Cub Master of the Forney Cub Scout Pack 339, member and Chairman of the Forney Area United Way and organizer of many fund drives for the United Way, and a member of various other voluntary organizations and drives. In the mid to late 1950s Paul Themer, with help from other men of the Community, invited 2nd and 3rd grade boys to practice fundamentals of playing baseball after school and during summer vacation, and this progressed into playing other teams from nearby cities. This beginning became the original Forney Little League with uniforms, schedules, multiple teams, and a local league with play-offs and championships. This progressed to schedules involving other cities and their teams. Until this past year, Paul was a member of the Forney Hillcrest Cemetery Committee, and until he died, he was the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Southland Athletic Manufacturing Company in Terrell. Some of the greatest joys of his later years were eating the wonderful meals his wife had prepared, attending events involving his children and grandchildren, volunteering to help his Church and Community, and working in his yard and on financial records. Paul John Themer went to be with his Lord before midnight on March 30, 2009, in Dallas Regional Medical Center in Mesquite, Texas. Funeral service(s) will be under the direction of New Hope Funeral Home in Sunnyvale, Texas. Family visitation will be Wednesday evening, April 1 from 6:00-8:00 p. m. at New Hope Funeral Home. Funeral service will be led by Vicar James Jarrett of Water of Life Lutheran and Pastor Richard Mayerhoff of Our Savior Lutheran at 1:00 p. m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Rockwall, Texas, and interment will be immediately following at Hillcrest Cemetery in Forney, Texas. Pallbearers will be grandsons, William, Waylon, and Weston Themer, and friends, Rudy Hunger, Alan Womack, and Armando DeLeon. Memorials may be given to Water of Life Lutheran Church (Forney, Texas) Building Fund or to Hillcrest Cemetery Committee, Forney.