David C. Sagebiel

David C. Sagebiel, 75, of Fredericksburg, died Friday, July 4, 2014.

Funeral services were held Monday, July 7, at 11 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church with the Reverends Casey Zesch and Travis Meier officiating. The eulogy was given by Jim Williams.

Following the service, his body was cremated.

Arrangements were under the direction of Fredericksburg Funeral Home where visitation was held Sunday evening, July 6.

Sagebiel was born July 6, 1938, in Fredericksburg, the son of Ewald Sagebiel and Adela Baethge Sagebiel. He married Shirley Rech on Sept. 14, 1958, in Johnson City and she survives.

Sagebiel began his career in the beef cattle industry in 1959, and in the ensuing years worked for the Tic Tac Toe Ranch; Straus-Medina Herefords, and J.D. Huggins, Inc. at Hungerford.

From 1974-1977, the Sagebiel family operated a grocery store.

In 1977, Sagebiel returned to the beef cattle industry when he became the herdsman for the V8 Ranch at Hungerford.

During his career with the Hudgins and Williams families, Sagebiel managed over 25 national or international champions.

In 2010, the National Brahman Show in Dallas was dedicated to Sagebiel in recognition for his years of promotion of American Brahman cattle.

The Sagebiels returned to Fredericksburg in 1984 and he continued as a herdsman until retiring in 2003.

Over the years, he participated in the Hungerford Volunteer Fire Department and the Wharton County Fair board of directors.

He was also active at the Lutheran church in Wharton, Christ Lutheran Church at Cherry Spring, and Bethany Lutheran Church.

In addition to his wife, Sagebiel is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Jennifer Sagebiel of Austin; five grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Carolee Sagebiel of Fredericksburg.

Memorials may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, St. John Lutheran Church’s Crabapple Homecoming or the charity of choice.

Pallbearers included Scott Sagebiel, David Sagebiel, Zachariah Sagebiel, Ashley Sagebiel, Jon Slaughter, Daniel Sagebiel, Willard Dearing, Ruben Sagebiel, Kevin Lochte, James Daniels, Joe Ray Jones and Richard Forguson.