Elroy Schatz

Elroy Schatz, age 89, of East Bernard, Texas passed away peacefully on October 23, 2026, at his home in East Bernard. He was born on July 25, 1937, in Burton, Texas, to the late Otto Karl and Felba Matthies Schatz.

Elroy was raised in the Rosenberg area and graduated from Lamar Cons. High School. While in school, he participated in several sports and playfully claims to still holds the record for the mile in track. He later attended Wharton County Junior College and Texas A&I University in Kingsville. After college, he married Gracie Pless in Wallis, Texas. They settled in East Bernard and raised a family there. 

Elroy was a rice farmer in his early years, worked at Gulf States Tube and for Wharton County Pct. 2, where he retired. He would still help farmers in the area with harvest from time to time. Elroy was known far and near for his coon hunting and coon dogs. He would hunt with them anywhere along the Bernard, or wherever the hunting was good. He also loved to hunt deer and go fishing. When his children and grandchildren were in school, he would follow their sports teams, never missing the action. This carried over to his grandchildren, attending countless baseball, football and soccer games around the state. He helped the Wharton Couty Youth Fair with the turkey show for many years and loved his coffee group meetings in the mornings. He was a faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church in Wallis for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Gracie Schatz, of East Bernard, daughters, Linda Vincek of East Bernard, and Brenda Engeling and husband, Russell of Brenham, son, Kenneth Schatz and wife, Shari of East Bernard, brother, Lyndon Schatz of Victoria, grandchildren, Ryan Engeling and wife, Casey, Kyle Engeling and wife, Faith, Jacob Vincek and wife, Courtney, Josh Vincek and wife, Amber and Niklas Schatz and fiancée Lilly Hohlt, along with great grandchildren, Henry, Arthur, William, Carter and Chandler.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Wharton Funeral Home in Wharton with visitation at 9 am and service at 10 am with Pastor Karen Wilhelm officiating. Burial will follow in East Bernard Methodist Cemetery in East Bernard. Serving as pallbearers will be Russell Engeling, Ryan Engeling, Kyle Engeling, Jacob Vincek, Josh Vincek and Niklas Schatz.

Funeral Services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at whartonfunertalhome.com.