Carl George Kothmann, age 92, passed away with his family by his side on Wednesday evening, April 22, 2026. Funeral services were held on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 10 in the morning at Grace Lutheran Church in Menard, Texas with internment following at Rest Haven Cemetery, Menard. Visitation was held Sunday afternoon from 2-4 at the Grace Lutheran Parish Hall and from 5-7 at the Mason Funeral Home. Pall bearers will be grandson, William Wright; grandson in-law, Paul Mews; great grandsons, Roy Mews, Kallan and Augustus Wright; nephews Sky Anderson, Shiell Anderson and Kaddo Kothmann; and stepgrandson, Curtis Kothmann. Memorials in Carl’s memory may be made to the Menard 4-H, Menard Volunteer Fire Department, Grace Lutheran Church or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are made under the direction of Mason Funeral Home.
Carl’s Story I was born to George and Bessie (Grote) Kothmann on August 23, 1933, about a mile east of the 5-mile river crossing in Menard County, Texas. It was said that Dad and Grandfather Chas. Kothmann were buying muttons and Billy kids from the Russell’s near Ft. McKavett during the event. Seems to me, we were still shearing over 1,000 head of these big Angora muttons on my 10th or 12th birthday. I have always enjoyed goat shearing almost as good as Christmas. I was baptized on October 31, 1933.
We moved to the Sears Ranch in the spring of 1938 (The move was a little dramatic since the flood of 1938 was occurring at the time and the family had to travel north on the Murchison road and then through the pastures to avoid the river. The Brady highway we know today did not exist.) and during the summer I spent many an hour on the back of old Smokey, the best babysitter in the whole world. That old horse sure would take care of a kid.
I started to school that fall. The new and excitement of school wore off in a very few seconds. I wanted to be home on Smokey. First and Second grades were not too bad but third grade was a real bugger. A Mrs. Meta Murchison was the teacher and my arithmetic and her did not jell. Long Division did me in. She would say, “Now does everyone in here understand this? Is there anyone in here that does not understand this?” She might as well been explaining the Greek alphabet but I sure as hell was not going to raise my hand! Needless to say, my grades were not good.
Since it was time for my sister Gail to take over the “kid” saddle, Dad said, “you make the B honor roll and I’ll get you a new saddle.” Mom got all the third-grade books and that summer I did not get to see much of Smokey – another miserable time in life. However, mom’s efforts paid off. Fourth grade brought again Miss Maden Low, whom I had in second grade, as a teacher. She was a jewel and grades were much easier to come by. I got my saddle. (M.L. Leddy made and its first ride was on the hood of the car from the mailbox to the house.)
There was a cute little girl that I met when we were in the second grade by the name of Carolyn Volkmann. She seemed to take the lead in everything. The best grades, outrun any boy or girl. She just could not be beat. There were some other very nice girls like Shirley Martin and Sue Bruton but Carolyn just beat them all. Sad thing is, none of them wanted much to do with the likes of me. Maybe I was just a little shy and probably would have run away had any of them cast an eye in my direction. My senior year of High School in 1951 was better. Most of the smarter classmates had finished in 3 years so competition was not as severe my last year of school. (High school Sundays were filled with goat roping at the ranch. He also helped lay the rock of the new family home. Carl graduated high school in May of 1952.)
1952 was a great year. Foot loose and fancy free. Even though there was a terrible drouth, I did not mind the pear burning and the helping out wherever. There was also a war going which meant military obligation for single men my age. I had joined the enlisted reserve to avoid being drafted.
In May of 1953, I was ordered to Ft. Sam Houston and from there to Camp Gordon, Georgia for basic training. After basic, I was given a choice of Officer Candidate School or overseas. I chose OCS. After this school, I was given a choice of Lieutenant Officer and 3 additional years of obligation or PFC and overseas. I was ready for home regardless of rank. After 2 weeks at home on leave, I reported to Camp Killeen for shipment to Germany where I was assigned to the 793 Military Police. Stationed in Neuenburg and from there to a detachment in Erlangen. All the fighting and bad stuff was past. I met some very nice German people, some of which have been close friends for life. I was able to visit Spain and France and meet up with friends from back home there.
I rotated back to the USA in March 1955. When I got off the bus in San Angelo, Texas with discharge papers and muster out money on April 1, 1955, I went to Mercer Boot Shop and put on a new pair of boots which I had ordered. From there I went to the office where my sister Jane worked. She took the rest of the day off and drove me home to mom and dad. THAT was one of the best times of my life.
After a few weeks at home, I went to Uncle Kinney’s ranch in Carrizo Springs and called that home for a few months. My good friend, Pinky Edwin came by on his way to El Paso, Texas and invited me to go with him to enroll at Texas Western College. I was not ready to leave Carrizo Springs, but my parents and my Aunt Dora all thought I would be missing a great opportunity if I did not go. So, I decided to give it a try. I can’t say much about my classroom studies other than Spanish and Trig were a____, however, the girls and Sunday roping at Ysleta kept it interesting enough for me to stick it out one semester. In May I was ready to come home. There had been some very rough weather, and I drove through some high water and hail drifts coming home. I learned that a twister had hit San Angelo taking out most of the grandstands and causing much damage. After a short time at Menard, Carrizo was on my mind. I don’t know what it is about that place, hard work and lonesome, but I could not help but like and enjoy it. However, a week of mom’s cooking sure would be good. What better place to get clothes washed? No place like home. I heard someone say that Carolyn and O.C. were divorced and she and the boys were at her parent’s house. Carolyn always was the apple of my eye, but I doubted that she would have anything to do with the likes of me. I had not had a letter or any news from anyone in El Paso for some time nor had I seen anyone in Carrizo or Crystal City to get excited over. The pretty girls at Criders after the Rodeo dance all seemed to be well occupied. Again and again, I thought about Carolyn. After two weeks of nerve building, I decided I would try to call her. But when? Who would answer the phone? What would I say? I expected her to hang up after a short conversation. To my surprise, my call went better than expected. After some hesitation, she accepted my invitation for her company to a movie the next weekend. I had hoped she would need and want me as much as I needed and wanted her. After a year of hesitation and serious consideration, she accepted my ring and we were married on July 19, 1957, just in time to make the Cheyenne Rodeo for our honeymoon. (They traveled through Colorado, stopping by the Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde on the way. They even took a trip up the mountain by horseback in the dark to spend some time with brother-in-law, Pehr Anderson who was on fire lookout duty. Sister Gail was still in Texas for the wedding. Carolyn nearly died the next morning when she saw the sheer drop off just a few feet from the tent.) The boys, Rocky and Benny, had a tough time adjusting to the new environment. Rocky was six, in first grade, and Benny was five. They were good boys with great respect especially for their mother. In early spring of 1958, I was informed we would be having an addition to the family. I had ridden my last 13 bulls without a buck off, and I wasn’t ready for the responsibility of a child of my own, yet reality was at hand. It was time to pack up my rodeo gear and dispose of it – a relief in the long run. On the early morning of October 24, 1958, our daughter, Dora Louise, was born. Dad never completed writing his story – finishing with the best part - Dora. The following was compiled by Dora from interviews with him. Carl continued roping as a favorite past time. Dora spent many an hour playing with her horse Clarence while Carl roped with the boys at Mason. He even continued after losing ends from two fingers on his right hand after a roping incident.
Days were then filled with ranching cattle, sheep and goats, both Angora and Spanish. He started with a stint of Brahman cows and progressed through Simmental and Brown Swiss and eventually used exclusively Angus. He facilitated his daughter and grandchildren in starting their own ranching operations and in later years, he shared his Vinegarroon ranch operations with his great -grandchildren.
One of his major accomplishments was the water system he implemented throughout the Vinegarroon Ranch. A strong well pumps water to a concrete tank which then distributes water by gravity flow pipeline throughout the ranch. All was accomplished with his engineering and own hard work.
Many family trips were made to visit his sisters, Gail in Montana and Jane in California, making stops at the Cheyenne Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede, as well as many stops in Yellowstone National Park and a tour of Disney Land in California. Carl also visited Australia with cousins and Venezuela with his nephew Sky.
Carl served as a trustee on the Menard School Board, a Director at the Menard Country Club, and a Director at Bevans State Bank. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Early church attendance was at First United Methodist Church and later, he was a member of Grace Lutheran with Carolyn.
Carl was preceded in death by the love of his life, wife Carolyn Kothmann; his parents, George and Bessie Kothman; his sisters, Jane Malory and Gail Anderson Leadbetter, and his grandson Aaron Kothmann. Carl is survived by his daughter Dora (Jim) Wright, grandchildren Kathy (Paul) Mews and Willy (Jessica) Wright, and great-grandchildren Roy and Daphne Mews, and Makenzie, Kallan, and Augustus Wright. Carl is also survived by stepsons Stanley (Margaret) Kothmann and Benny (Cordelia) Kothmann and their families: Kimberly Kothmann and daughter Carolyn; Conrad (Becky) and sons Carson and Brooks; Curtis (Dandy) Kothmann and son Wes (Hanah) and their daughter Cora; and Valera (Brandon) Corbin and children Cade, Claire and George. Mary Lee Spiller Kothmann also survives as his second wife.
The family would like to express their extreme gratitude to the Menard Manor and all its staff for the wonderful care given to Carl the last 3.5 years. Your love and tender attention to him gave us so much peace in his final years.
Carl’s strong Christian faith and heartfelt belief in family left a wonderful legacy to us all. Ride home cowboy. You deserve rest in God’s beautiful green pastures.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23
Photo by Madolyn Nasworthy