In Loving Memory of Lanny J. Maedgen

Lanny Joe Maedgen, 84, of Fredericksburg, TX passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.  He was born to Clayton E. and Ella Mae Smith Maedgen in Brownwood, TX on May 20, 1934, and was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marilyn Maedgen, who died in infancy.

Lanny is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Bertha Marie Weige Maedgen, of Fredericksburg.  Lanny is also survived by his three daughters Karla (Charlie) Jackson, Lana Maedgen and Robin Maedgen (Jason Perkins) of Austin, TX; two brothers Bill (Vivian) Maedgen of Providence, UT and Ron (Ann) Maedgen of Rockwall, TX; two grandsons Adam and Evan Jackson, and three step-grandchildren Courtney, Marshal and Grant Perkins.  Lanny was a loving father, husband, brother, grandfather and friend to all.

Lanny attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played coronet in the Longhorn Band, and remained a loyal Longhorn throughout his life.  After a two year break serving in the US Army, he joined his brothers at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX where he earned a degree in Horticulture and Park Management.  Upon graduation, he worked for the Lubbock Parks Department, where he met Bertha, married and moved to Dallas to spend the next 40 years in the civil engineering field and raising his three daughters.

In 2001, he and Bertha retired and built their dream home in Fredericksburg, where they enjoyed 18 years of support and friendship with their cherished neighbors at Settler's Ridge.

As a young man, Lanny grew up in Ballinger, TX loving the outdoors and achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow.  He was a passionate lifelong deer hunter and loved to tinker in his barn workshop to build, refinish or repair just about anything.  He was also a true patriot, proudly serving in the 552nd Anti-aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion Division of the US Army in Karlsruhe, Germany, defending the Rhine River during the Allied occupation after WWII.

His talent as a craftsman and his patriotic spirit came together when he was asked to participate in the creation of 600 painted wood poppies to be placed on the Fredericksburg courthouse lawn in commemoration of Gillespie County residents who served in World War I. He was also invited to ride in the 2018 Veterans Day Parade to honor his military service during the Korean War years.  He was both proud and grateful to participate in that very special event in his adopted community of Fredericksburg.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the wonderful team at Hill Country Memorial Hospital, Homecare and Hospice for their loving care and support. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to these fine community services, or the Nimitz or Pioneer museums, both of which he loyally supported.

A military service and celebration of Lanny's life will be held at the Gillespie County Historical Society church at 312 West San Antonio Street in Fredericksburg at 1:00pm on Saturday, May 11, 2019 with Tim Boyer officiating.  A reception will be held in the adjacent Fellowship Hall immediately following.