Viertel

Dorothy Marie (Hejl) Viertel, 78, of Carmine, died Sunday, March 12, 2017. Dorothy was born in Caldwell on Aug. 14, 1938, daughter of Joe and Mary (Luksa) Hejl. The eldest of four children, she graduated from William B. Travis High School, in South Austin. She married Melvin Viertel on Sept. 16, 1962. They settled and raised their family in South Austin. She was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin where she lent her beautiful singing voice to the church choir. Dorothy worked for 22 years in the Membership Department of Texas Medical Association. After retirement, she and Melvin moved to the Viertel family land in Carmine, Texas. She was an active member of the American Legion Quade-Werchan Post 338 Auxiliary of Round Top. Dorothy loved reading. She instilled in her children a love of books, a gift for and an appreciation of the written word, and a near reverence for the public library. Books were an escape for her – a way to transport herself to new and exciting places – without ever having to leave a comfortable chair. She loved swing and jazz music; Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong were two of her favorites. Her daughter knew all the words to ‘The Lady is a Tramp’ by age four. Her son will always remember why Constantinople is now Istanbul! She journaled on and off throughout her lifetime. In retirement she began writing poetry, often inspired by nature, the seasons, the stars and moon. She never met a sunset she didn’t revel in and stop to appreciate. Oftentimes, the beauty of the world as seen through her eyes was used to share the deep emotions she felt for her loved ones. Many of those nearest and dearest to her have been blessed by her sincere and always heartfelt, poetic offerings received in the mail for a birthday, a holiday, or sometimes for no reason at all. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Melvin Viertel, and by her brother Joe Hejl. She is survived by her loving family: daughter, Ann-Marie Viertel; son and daughter- in-law David Viertel and Julie Kahl Viertel; granddaughter, Ella Marie Viertel; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Mary Hejl; sister and brother -in- law Judy and Tag Gray; and dear family friends Wade and Shirley Martyn and their sons Miles and Colin. The family wishes to express their particular gratitude to Amy Neal, to the staff and residents of Lakewood Village in Charleston, Ill., to the Oncology nursing staff at Carle in Mattoon, Ill., and to Lincoln-land Hospice of Mattoon, Ill. We are grateful for your kind and loving support, thoughts, and prayers. Family will accept visitors on Friday, March 17, 2017 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2017. A private graveside service will follow at Carmine Cemetery. Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com. Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home in La Grange is in charge of arrangements.