JOHN B. LINGNAU
John B. Lingnau, b January 2, 1923 in Westphalia, Falls County, Texas, d
November 8, 1984 and buried in St. Mary's Cemetery at Westphalia - was a son of
Bruno John and Mary Katherine (Bockholt) Lingnau.
On November 20,1951 in Milam County, Texas, John B. Lingnau was married
to Helen Jo Olbrich, b January 2, 1931 in Milam County, Texas - a daughter of
Joseph A. and Ida (Meek) Olbrich of Burlington, Milam County, Texas. John and
Helen made their in the original, permanent of his mother's parents,
Johann G. and Theresia (Gerngross) Bockholt, and farmed the land which had been
farmed by his parents and grandparents, before him. In 1983, the State of Texas
Family Land Heritage Program presented a Certificate to John in honor of the
Bockholt Place, for 100 years of continuous ownership and operation of the
land as a family agricultural enterprise.
John Lingnau was educated in the Westphalia Public School, while Helen
graduated from Rosebud High School. While John continued his farming and other
pursuits, Helen began a career in the banking field, where she has worked most
of her adult life. She has been with a Temple Bank for the past twenty- seven
years, and was the first woman named cashier. She now is cashier and Internal
Control Officer, and is a member of National Association of Bank Women, American
Business Women's Association, and is active in the church and community affairs
at Westphalia.
John served as chairman of the Falls County Historical Commission from
1977 to 1980, and was also very active in the Bi-Centennial Celebration of the
United States in 1976. He was a member of the Texas Gun Collectors Association,
and his gun collection has been part of many displays at Ft. Fisher, and else-
where. He enjoyed the many facets of history and historical research, and
collected various specimen of early memorabilia - having exhibits at various
functions. He was usually the "spearhead" for coordination of functions and
activities in the Westphalia Community. After his death, some of his friends in
the Westphalia Community, and from elsewhere in the county, presented a Falls
County Flag to the Westhalia Public School, in his memory, on November 11,1984
when the flag was first officially flown in the county.
John B. and Helen Jo (Olbrich) Lingnau had no children; but the heritage
they have preserved will always be remembered - not only in Westphalia, but
throughout Falls County and Central Texas.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 282 column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.
