Donald Robert Langfeld
September 1, 1942 - April 13, 2019

Donald Robert Langfeld, or Don as we all knew him, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, April 13, 2019. He was born in Chicago on September 1, 1942, and his parents, Dorothy & Anthony Langfeld, along with grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins & nephews, and numerous puppies & kittens, are rejoicing to be reunited with him. While he loved Chicago, he got to Texas as soon as he could, and while he wasnt born here, he died in his beloved state of Texas.

An Eagle Boy Scout, Don served proudly as an officer in the Marine Corps. When he resigned his commission, he began working at Jewel Food Stores and later Sysco Food Services. Lets just say he wasnt cut out for the corporate world, and when after only 2 years in Austin he was asked to move to a position in Houston, he took a great leap of faith and bought his own business, Texas Water Systems, and began making the un-user-friendly water here in the Hill Country drinkable. He gained many new friends in this new career but finally retired and began his most fulfilling work here on his ranch in Blanco County.

Don was initially married to Barbara Bochniak and they had two wonderful, beloved sons, Andrew & Robert. Beginning their married life with eight years of service in the Marine Corps, including many years of separation, didnt make for a strong & happy marriage. They divorced, allowing each to find long & loving marriages. Barbara (who died 4 years ago) married Jack Khanjian. Don found Christine (Chris) Reinecke, who became his loving wife and best friend.

Andy (Drew) grew up & married Tammy Cody. They had 2 wonderful sons, Jackson & Jefferson. Rob married Julie Surowka, & they had a wonderful son, Bergen, & an amazing daughter, Brooke. He was a proud & loving Poppi, if occasionally cantankerous. Dons brother, Tom, married Janie Manning & they had 3 beautiful girls, Beth, Shelley, & Patricia, & Dons beloved god-son Tony. All found wonderful spouses: Beth married Gerry Bloodworth. They had Tyler, Mackenzie, & Spencer. Shelley married Joe Shukys & they had Claire & Sam. Patricia married Adam Ford, & they had Zachary & Max. Tony married Lisa Hopkins & they had Owen & Xander. Tyler married but Dons met neither his spouse, Alexis, or their children, nor Mackenzies spouse Brody, but hopes that with Gods grace & their common sense, that both will have long & loving marriages. Toms beloved wife, Janie, died from cancer which devastated us all. Tom was blessed to remarry a dear friend of Janies, Michelle Merollo, who is blessing his life in retirement.

Don is brother-in-law to Gregg Reinecke. Gregg & his wife Djena & their amazing son, James, were coming to visit this week. Don had never met Djena & James, & it would have been a wonderful time for him. Dons sister-in-law, Deb McCauley, widow of Art, has a married son, Marc Naden, & 2 beloved daughters, Deb Clark & Denise Divis, who also married. All have wonderful kids, none of whom Don ever met, but listened patiently as Chris kept him up-to-date on all their activities. Don adored Chriss aunt, Marilyn Dahl & her husband Jack (deceased). Their boys Scot & Virginia, Jay & Peg, Jim & Marty, & Wayne & Michelle, have wonderful families, scattered all over. He was blessed with meeting Chriss uncle, Ralph Koebke & his wife Nancy. While hes met all their kids (Leslie, Erika, & Ted), his memory of them faded, but they were still loved.

At the time of his death, Don was the loving father to his 3 most recent puppies: 12-year-old Angel, 6-year-old LaZer, & 5-year-old Licorice (Licky). They brought him joy daily. Not to be forgotten are his many beloved friends, far too numerous to list, because as many have said, everyone Don met became a friend to him. He was a wonderful, kind, funny, & loving man.

Don suffered from dementia in the last 2 years of his life. Knowing he couldnt remember his loved ones was painful for him. Knowing his body could no longer support the very active, productive life-style enjoyed throughout his life caused him great distress. His family is so thankful that he died before his dementia progressed any further, & that he died while still living at home cared for by Chris.

We will not be having a memorial service. The distances are far too great to have any of yall come for a few days & fly home. Plus, Don does not want flowers. Being a life-long Catholic, his faith occasionally came into conflict with his political beliefs. It was his deep compassion and empathy for ALL of Gods children that shaped his politics, and he was proud to support the Blanco County Democrats. If you feel so moved, please donate to your favorite pet rescue group, or to Alzheimers Texas (txalz.org), or the Blanco County Democrats (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bcdmembership).

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