Leon Rudolph Hoelscher

Leon Rudolph Hoelscher, 79, of Ballinger, Texas, passed on 8-1-2026 peacefully surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born the 11th of 11 children on February 15, 1947, at home in Olfen, Texas, to Walter Andrew and Mary Augusta (Knoff) Hoelscher. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Rowena, TX, Leon went on to serve honorably in the Army National Guard, entering boot camp at eighteen years old on March 9, 1965. On May 22, 1971, he married Dorothy Ann Jansa at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Olfen, Texas. Together they shared 55 years and had three wonderful children, Tod, Joseph, and Ann.

After getting married, Leon and Dororthy lived in Austin where Leon enjoyed playing sports year-round in the All-City League. He famously could step in to play a game that he had never played before and excel at it. Leon had never hit a tennis ball until he was 21 years old, and he ended up winning a tennis tournament. Leon had also never played volleyball, but he was able to help his team come in 2nd place because he was the only one on his team that could spike the ball. One season, he managed, coached, and played basketball, bringing his team to win the league. When Leon and Dorothy moved to Olfen then to Ballinger, he was the MVP for the slow pitch softball tournament in Olfen. Leon’s love of sports didn’t stop with him; he also helped coach many of his children’s teams.

Leon worked hard in his adult years, from the Fischer Cotton Gin, General Dynamics in Ft. Worth, Capital National Bank in Austin, and the Texas Employment Commission in Austin. He also found time and energy to work multiple side jobs as well, including selling Catholic Life Insurance, obtaining his Real Estate Broker’s License, managing rental properties, painting houses and working as a carpenter. But his true passion was his dairy work, which in over a span of 20 years, he did it all and still holds the record for the highest producer not just in Runnels County but Tom Green as well. Leon loved to go check on his “girls” aka his cattle!

Even with all his community involvement and his dedication to his professions and country, he was also a man of service. Leon was a member of the American Legion, was a 1st Degree Knight of Colombus, and served on two separate parish councils for a minimum of 14 years separately, and as President for both St. Boniface in Olfen, Texas and St. Mary’s Star of The Sea in Ballinger, Texas.

Leon is preceded in death by his parents Walter and Mary Hoelscher, and his siblings Weldon Hoelscher, Jerome Hoelscher, Clarence Hoelscher, Joyce Ann Hoelscher and husband Clifford, Francis Hoelscher, Ben Hoelscher, and brother-in-law Bernard Beach.

He is survived by his wife Dot Hoelscher, and children Tod Bradley Hoelscher and wife Stephanie, Joseph Alfon Hoelscher and wife Holly, and Ann Elizabeth Bollinger and husband Jason. Leon will also be dearly missed by his grandchildren Paul Hoelscher, Lucy Hoelscher, James Hoelscher, and Brooks Bollinger. Surviving siblings include Grace Beach, Marilyn Midkiff, Pat Kvapil, and LeRoy Hoelscher, and sisters-in-law Caroline Hoelscher, Cheryl Hoelscher and Ruth Jansa.

A rosary will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 6:30 PM at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Olfen, Texas. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held the following day at 10:00 AM, also at St. Boniface with Father Ariel Lagunilla celebrating. Interment will follow at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Boniface Cemetery, 1118 CR 234, Rowena, TX 76875 in Leon’s honor.

The family wishes to thank The St. Joseph and St. Mary Senior Citizen Game Days, Dr. Allen Hardwicke, Ruth Jansa and the amazing women at Ballinger Hospice as well as all the people who prayed for us.