Sillavan

**JOHN HAROLD SILLAVAN**
Bellville Times John Harold Sillavan was born May 12, 1923, in Caddo, Okla., the son of Wesley and Bobbie Lou Paschall Sillavan. He grew up and attended schools in Navasota, Bellville and Hempstead. On Jan. 19, 1942, John married the love of his life, Nettie Frank, in Houston. John served his country in the United States Army as a Combat Infantryman during World War II from March 1944 - December 13, 1945. After his honorable discharge, John and Nettie moved their family to Houston in 1949, where John joined the Houston Police Department. Once their children were grown and John and Nettie had both retired, they moved to Bellville where they have thoroughly enjoyed the quiet, simple life. It was a move they never regretted. All of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren live no farther than Austin, College Station, Cypress and Bellville. They have enjoyed traveling with lifelong friends and family to every state in the continental United States except Maine and Iowa. John and Nettie treasured their friendship with Joe and Juanita Banse who always made sure they were on the bus with all their other friends heading to Marksville, La. John's greatest joy in life was spending time with his family, and he especially enjoyed the time he was able to spend playing guitars with his sons and his grandsons. He passed away July 31, 2008 in Bellville at the age of 85. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 66 years, Nettie Bell Frank Sillavan; children Gene Sillavan, Nancy Hempel and her husband, Curtis, and John D. Sillavan; grandchildren Kenny Sillavan and his wife, Sandy, John Hilsher, Jennifer Matthews and her husband, Cliff, Karly Donnel and her husband. Walter, and Anna Hempel. John is also survived by his great grandchildren Jake and Jessie Sillavan, Christopher Hilsher, Caroline Dyer and Stephanie Donnell. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Hollis Sillavan, and his sister, Enid Sillavan Davis. John now joins his family and friends in Heaven. He will be greatly missed by many people, but his life lives on through his grandchildren's and great grandchildren's memories of him. Visitation was 5-7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008 at Schmidt Funeral Home in Bellville. Funeral service was 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug, 3, 2008 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Lawrence White officiating. Interment was in Oak Knoll Cemetery in Bellville. Pallbearers were Joe Banse, Harold Frank, Herman Schoenemann, Raymond Pascual, Russell Sillavan, Charles Hilsher, Royce Sillavan and Ronnie Neutzler. Honorary pallbearer were Ted Moore, Truman Laminack and B.Y. Lynn. Posted by Joy Neely

Bellville Times

John Harold Sillavan was born May 12, 1923, in Caddo, Okla., the son of Wesley and Bobbie Lou Paschall Sillavan. He grew up and attended schools in Navasota, Bellville and Hempstead.

On Jan. 19, 1942, John married the love of his life, Nettie Frank, in Houston.

John served his country in the United States Army as a Combat Infantryman during World War II from March 1944 - December 13, 1945.

After his honorable discharge, John and Nettie moved their family to Houston in 1949, where John joined the Houston Police Department. Once their children were grown and John and Nettie had both retired, they moved to Bellville where they have thoroughly enjoyed the quiet, simple life.

It was a move they never regretted. All of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren live no farther than Austin, College Station, Cypress and Bellville.

They have enjoyed traveling with lifelong friends and family

to every state in the continental United States except Maine and Iowa. John and Nettie treasured their friendship with Joe and Juanita Banse who always made sure they were on the bus with all their other friends heading to Marksville, La.

John's greatest joy in life was spending time with his family, and he especially enjoyed the time he was able to spend playing guitars with his sons and his grandsons.

He passed away July 31, 2008 in Bellville at the age of 85.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 66 years, Nettie Bell Frank Sillavan; children Gene Sillavan, Nancy Hempel and her husband, Curtis, and John D. Sillavan; grandchildren Kenny Sillavan and his wife, Sandy, John Hilsher, Jennifer Matthews and her husband, Cliff, Karly Donnel and her husband. Walter, and Anna Hempel. John is also survived by his great grandchildren Jake and Jessie Sillavan, Christopher Hilsher, Caroline Dyer and Stephanie Donnell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Hollis Sillavan, and his sister, Enid Sillavan Davis. John now joins his family and friends in Heaven. He will be greatly missed by many people, but his life lives on through his grandchildren's and great grandchildren's memories of him.

Visitation was 5-7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008 at Schmidt Funeral Home in Bellville.

Funeral service was 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug, 3, 2008 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Lawrence White officiating.

Interment was in Oak Knoll Cemetery in Bellville.

Pallbearers were Joe Banse, Harold Frank, Herman Schoenemann, Raymond Pascual, Russell Sillavan, Charles Hilsher, Royce Sillavan and Ronnie Neutzler.

Honorary pallbearer were Ted Moore, Truman Laminack and B.Y. Lynn.

Posted by Joy Neely

Austin County Obits