at his home.

John was born Aug. 6, 1944, in Houston, to J.W. and Irene Jaeger.

He served in the United States Navy, was a life-long rancher and retired from Texas Utilities. He loved going to his house at the coast with friends and family and going saltwater fishing.

He supported the youth rodeo and The New Braunfels Jr. Sheriff’s posse with their roping and riding.

In 1979, he and Mack McCormick worked with the Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists, in securing the signatures of 10,000 acres of Milam County landowners to reintroduce whitetail and turkeys back into Milam County.

He was a member of San Andes Mason lodge #170. He also volunteered with Aransas Pass Lodge 1080 for their annual Shrimporee. Johnny loved hunting and he found joy in allowing the special ones to hunt with him. He processed all of his own meat and taught many life-long skill. He made the best sausage and kept the recipe in a secret black book.

He loved to watch his kids and grandkids play sports and attend their extracurricular activities. He was known for his nicknames and teasing his grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Jimmy and Jerry Jaeger; sister, Kathy Edge and brother-in-law, Rodger Edge; father-in-law, Albert Schlather and motherin- law Ester Schlather.

John is survived by his wife, Joyce Jaeger; daughter, Jennifer Ramirez and husband, Aaron; bonus son, Tommy McCormick and wife, Ashley; grandchildren, Chelsea Christ and husband, Caleb, JR Christ, Nicholas and Alayna Ramirez, MaKayla and RaeAnn McCormick and Jacob Hash; brother, David Jaeger, sister, Cecelia Robinson and husband, Albert, brother-in-law, Albert Schlather and wife, Beverly; numerous, nieces, nephews and friends.

The family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.

A funeral service will be Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale.

Burial to follow at St. Paul Cemetery.