Kubena Funeral Home

Urban Florence HemmiUrban Florence Hemmi 
(December 9, 1911 - October 15, 2011)
Urban Florence Hemmi, 99, of Hallettsville, passed peacefully into the hands of Jesus on Saturday evening, October 15, 2011, amidst many family members. He was born December 9, 1911, was the fifth child of a family of 5 boys and 3 girls to Johannes and Elizabeth Tesch Hemmi in Nada, Texas, where all his siblings were born.
Urban’s grandfather, Christian and father Johann immigrated from Churwalden, Switzerland, arriving in Galveston, Texas, on the ship Hohenzollern on November 1, 1885. The fifth child of a family of five boys and three girls, Urban proved early on to be a survivor, whilst living through a kick to the head by a mule, at four years old, that left a permanent indention in his forehead. He prevailed over many more traumatic accidents and surgeries over his ninety-nine years that have left his doctors in awe of his durability and longevity.

As a youth he played hardball, swam in canals and played in the Nada church band with his brothers. Young Urban walked 2 miles, each way, to serve morning mass for Father Held. He sold American garden seeds, trapped for pelts, chopped cotton for 50 cents a day and worked in the rice fields. He attended Draughon’s Business School in Houston in 1930 and survived the Great Depression.

On September 8, 1940, he married Theresa Marie Stewart in the Sacred Heart Catholic church of Rockport, Texas, to which union seven children were born. He was a devoted family man of faith who found great joy in holding babies and celebrating the many activities of his children and grandchildren. Everyone knew his distinctive cough and his favorite line at his son’s football games: “Watch out for that pass”! He was funny, witty and full of pranks - especially when he was with his brothers, and he needed a sense of humor for the challenges of raising five rowdy boys and two girls.

Urban was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and school families. He was a lifetime member of the Hallettsville Knights of Columbus Council 2433, an original member of the St. Joseph Society, the Northwest SERRA club, the A.C.T.S. community, and a retired salesman (12 Apostle) for Catholic Life Insurance Union Branch 22. He and his wife Theresa served as engagement encounter sponsors, communion ministers, and performed many other services of their parish. He was a man of faith that never wavered, a true servant who lived life abundantly that taught his children well by example. He knew true joy came in sharing all that he had and was. He faithfully attended mass and prayed his rosary his entire life.

Urban worked for the Highway department in Beeville, built World War Two submarine chasers and hospital ships in the shipyards of Rockport and Brownsville, Texas. He also later owned his own Humble station in Rockport. After moving to Hallettsville in 1951, he spent many years employed at Goedecke‘s Cotton firm, Hajovsky’s Western Auto, Tumis service station and Grahmann’s True Value store. In retirement Urban could be found plowing the gardens, feeding cattle, canning fruits and vegetables, making grape and dewberry wine, and fighting the squirrels for the pecans he shelled to send to the Hemmi relatives, back in Switzerland. He was competent in many skills and could outwork his sons even into his nineties.

There was never a stranger in the Urban Hemmi Haus of Hospitality. Visitors always left with fresh vegetables, canned jellies, a taste of homemade wine and a heart warmed by kindness. He loved dancing to and listening to Polka music and Waltzes. One of the few times you would find Urban sitting still was saying his daily prayers or rosary with his wife, working on stamps or crossroads puzzles.

Urban is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Theresa Marie Stewart Hemmi, with whom he proudly raised seven children: Theresa and Paul Voelkel of Hallettsville, John and Barbara Hemmi of San Antonio, Agnes Palmer of Pasadena, Joe and Beth Hemmi of San Antonio, Phillip and Rosemary Hemmi of Hallettsville, Michael and Donna Hemmi and James and Linda Hemmi of Houston, and one sister Helen Hewitt of Kyle. He had eighteen grandchildren – six with spouses: Kevin and Cathy Voelkel, Cheryl and Andrew Oldweiler, Stephanie and Nick Nichols, Joanne and Ron Kinney, Kyle and Grace Hemmi, Kelly Voelkel, Adam and Veronica Hemmi, Jeffrey Hemmi, Bradley Hemmi, Gretchen Hemmi, Kristen Hemmi, Christian Hemmi, Jacob Hemmi, Jamie Marie Hemmi, Zachary Hemmi, Anna Hemmi, James Hemmi and Abby Hemmi. He was also blessed with twelve great-grandchildren: Justin Voelkel, Stephen Voelkel, Taylor Hemmi, Patrick Voelkel, Jacob Voelkel, Aaron Nichols, Aiden Nichols, Faith Kinney, Alec Nichols, Emma Kinney, Kaelan Hemmi and Micah Hemmi. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers; Phillip, twins Richard and Frank, Marcus and their spouses; also by his sisters, Ophelia Schoellman and Martha Leonard; by son-in-law Raymond Palmer; and grandchild Ashley Hemmi.

The family is grateful for all the excellent personal care of Dr. Justin Powell and staff, Advance Home Care staff, Cuero Home health staff and all his family caregivers who compassionately lifted Urban up to his Creator.

Funeral Mass Service: 10 am, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 4 pm, Tuesday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosary: 6 pm, Tuesday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Officiate: Rev. John Peters. Pallbearers (grandsons): Kevin Voelkel, Kyle Hemmi, Andrew Oldweiler, Zachary Hemmi, Christian Hemmi, and Adam Hemmi. Memorials: Sacred Heart School Endowment Fund or to the Phillip Hemmi Sr. scholarship fund, P.O. Drawer H, Hallettsville, Texas 77964. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.