A graveside memorial service for Lynwood Dale Hejtmancik will be held at 2 p.m. on April 9, 2022, in Deanville at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.
He departed this life on March 22, 2022, and will be missed by many.
Lynn was born to Anton and Ella (Kiel) Hejtmancik on July 2, 1934, the fourth of six children. He grew up on the family farm and attended Hogg School, Deanville School, and Caldwell High School where he was active in 4-H and FFA.
On June 4, 1955, he married Carolyn (Williams) in Marlin, Texas. Daughter, Diane, and son, Kevin completed the family.
Lynn served in the U.S. Army. In his younger years, he worked for the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, Southern Pacific Railroad, Williams Feed Store, and the City of Austin, as well as owning his own small business raising broilers. At the age of 59, he retired from computer programming for the State of Texas.
Through the years, Lynn made many friends through his volunteerism and travels. He was inducted into the Texas Navy as an Admiral (an honorary position) in 2009. In 1988, he was fortunate to win the CASI Terlingua International Chili Championship. He was inducted into the CASI Chili Hall of Fame in 1989, and named Chilihead of the Year in 2014.
Lynn was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Hejtmancik; his parents, Anton and Ella Hejtmancik; brother, Marvis Hejtmancik and his wife, Gay; brother, Dennis Hejtmancik; sister-in-law, Joyce Hejtmancik; and brothers-in-law, Eddie Leinweber and Charles Gentry.
He is survived by his son, Kevin Hejtmancik; daughter, Diane and her husband, Doug Rankin; six grandchildren, Lacy and her husband, Rick Miles, Katy and her husband, Jason Davis, Amanda Barton, Jessica and her husband, Brian Elliott, Keith Rankin and his wife, Kristi, and Lisa Rankin; 15 greatgrandchildren; his brother, Lloyd Hetmancik; sisters, Lavelle Leinweber and Ilene Gentry; and sisters-in-law, Estelle Hejtmancik and Kathy Horton.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Terlingua Common School District. This would benefit the Terlingua School Activity Fund, one of Lynn’s favorites. (Terlingua CSD P.O. Box 256 Terlingua, Texas 79852), the CASI Scholarship Fund (https://www.casichili.net/scholarships.html), or your local steam train association.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home. They invite you to visit their website at www.stricklandfuneralhomes.com and sign the online register book.