Herbert Weber

Herbert Peter Weber, 91, passed away in his home in Austin, Texas, Thursday, August 9, 2012. At his side was his beloved Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Sutherland Weber, who was his wife for 49 years and also his partner, best friend and caregiver. Herbert was born May 28, 1921, in Allersberg, Germany. His parents were Marie and Georg Weber, and he had two younger siblings, Gertrud and Werner. He was educated in Donaworth and Nuremberg, Germany, where he achieved a junior college level education and became certified in Restaurant and Hotel Management. Before he could pursue his profession, WWII interfered and he was drafted into the German Army, where he served his country honorably in the first Panzer Division on the Russian front. Herbert was captured and escaped three times from different POW camps by learning different languages and posing as a different nationality. When was asked once how he could communicate in so many languages, he said, "Hunger is the best teacher." One of his friends, when he learned of Herbert's passing, observed, "He escaped again." When the war ended, Herbert worked during the occupation for the U.S. government as an interviewer and translator. After the war, he made his way to Lima, Peru, taking with him his first wife, Hilla, where they had three sons and were married for thirteen years. Herbert also made it possible for his brother and sister to join him in Peru. He made many friends and took whatever work he could get. He had adventures along the Amazon River harvesting and transporting curare with his brother. Once swept away by the flooding river, he lost his shoes and it was an Indian boy who presented him with the size 13 footwear, saying, "Gringo, these must be yours because no one else has feet this big!" He was finally able to practice his profession when Los Inkas Country Club made him manager of their restaurant, in Lima, Peru. After Herbert had been divorced for four years, he met Beth who was in the Peace Corps in Peru, and it was love at first sight. On the third day, he proposed. He said, "I am divorced, I'm not rich, and I have three boys -- will you marry me?" She answered, "Only if you play the piano." He was shocked and said "I do!" but what he didn't know was she knew he played the piano. Since Beth worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer for the U.S. government, Herbert had to pass a U.S. Security Clearance, which he did; "clean as a whistle" the Peace Corps Director told him. Beth and Herbert were married in 1963 in Peru. They came to Austin in January 1964. With no assets or funds, they established their home on Onion Creek. Herbert loved the wide open space of Texas and the spirit of his sixth generation Texan wife. With a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, Herbert and Beth both worked hard to build a life together. He worked for the Driskill Hotel in Austin and the Stagecoach Inn at Salado . Together they built up a business on the farm they bought. Herbert became a U.S. citizen in 1967 and subsequently made it possible for his brother and sister to join him, this time in Texas. Always a gentleman, Herbert was a kind and gentle person who treated everyone with respect and compassion. His consistent advice was "Enjoy your personal freedom." Above all, Herbert loved family and God. Beth and Herbert's daughter, Monika Marie Weber, was born on August 4, 1970. Growing up deeply loved, Monika, who was born with Down Syndrome, often told them "Take your time" and "Concentrate on Love". They wondered where Monika got her direct pipeline to God. Monika was the apple of their eye and brought joy and love into their lives for 25 years. Her death from leukemia on January 21, 1996, was a deep and profound loss. Herbert joins his precious Monika, his parents, and his brother Werner in Heaven. Besides his wife Beth, Herbert is survived by his three sons from the first marriage, Heinz, Peter, and Michael. He is survived by the family of Heinz Weber of Miami Beach, Florida: wife Irma Salazar Weber, their son Gilbert Salazar and his son Michael; their son Edwin Salazar and wife Diana, and their children Joseph, Janet, and Irma-Esperanza. He is survived by the family of Peter Weber of McAllen, Texas: wife Maria, sons Keith, and David and wife Maydi and their children Levi and Eva. He is survived by Michael Weber and wife Hildegard of Wilhermsdorf, Germany. He is survived by his sister, Gertrud Weber Teunisse of Austin and her children, Judy Lockwood, Lindy Howard, Cindy Teunisse, and Bobby Teunisse. He is survived also by his brother Werner Weber's daughters, Ingrid of Spain and Annie of Peru, and their families.

Herbert is survived by two first cousins, Robert Weber and Irmintraud Weber Simmet of Germany. He is also survived by Beth's sisters, nieces, nephews, and large extended family. Herbert and Beth have been longtime members of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. A Mass in Herbert's memory is pending and planned for later this year. Herbert also was a longtime member of the Austin Saengerrunde. In his later years, he derived great pleasure from the Bible Studies group at St. Peter's and from his "Four Seasons" group of friends. Other close friends also gave him great solace. Herbert suffered from end stage congestive heart failure and Parkinson's disease. He also dealt with prostate cancer, glaucoma blindness, arthritis, and asthma. Despite all this, he fought to live fully every day. He truly felt that "It is worth it to be alive." Only recently did he say, "I am ready to go. I'll see you on the other side." Herbert Weber was deeply loved and respected by his wife, family, and friends. Now we can say to him, "Enjoy your personal freedom."

In Loving Memory of Herbert Peter Weber, born May 28, 1921, who died on August 9, 2012,

a Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Church on December 5, 2012 at 2:00 pm, at 4600 East Ben White Blvd., Austin, Texas.

Father Richard Tijerina will preside over the Mass.