HALLETTSVILLE: David Mark Nitsch Sr, age 78, passed away peacefully in his sleep April 23, 2025. He was born March 30, 1947, in Houston to Herman and Mary Ann Kucera Nitsch.
David had a lifelong love of scouting, serving as a Boy Scout and enjoying camping trips in his youth. He was an altar boy for many years at his parish church, St. Peter the Apostle in Houston.
After graduating from St. Thomas High School in 1965, David joined the Naval Reserve in 1966 and completed Boot Camp in San Diego. Called to active duty in 1967, he trained and deployed aboard the USS Turner Joy as a bosun’s mate, sailing directly to Vietnam. Over the years, David maintained strong friendships with several of his fellow crew members and took great pride in his service to his country.
He was owner and operator of Steam-Tex Carpet Cleaning and a member of St. John The Baptist Catholic Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, crabbing, tending to his cattle and cooking. He was a mild tempered man of God who joyfully lived his roles of husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He raised his children modeling a life of moral values, responsibility, and generosity and those traits have been passed to his children and their spouses as they raise their families today. His nieces and nephews considered him “best uncle ever”. He made sure they each had proper fishing gear to make catches in the ranch ponds. He was the provider of egg rolls for the annual Christmas family and friends gathering. He made it a tradition. He was a friend to all and always had a smile on his face. To reiterate the type of man David Nitsch was, this is the last text he shared with his daughter on Easter Sunday: Hi Cassandra! I saw the beautiful Easter picture and the first thing I thought is “Wow, I did good” lol. They say raising children is hard. I thought it was fun every day. You and David Jr. made me proud.
Survivors: wife of 26 years, Diana Gajewsky Nitsch; children, Cassandra Smith (Zac), David Nitsch Jr (Desiree) and Jody Morrow (Kylie); seven grandchildren; sister, Mary Ann Patterson; brothers, Craig Nitsch (Patricia) and Bobby Nitsch (Brenda); mother of his children, Diana Chumchal Nitsch.
Preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation at 6:00 p.m. then a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home.
Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Rev. Jonas Kuubeta officiating. Burial Koerth Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers: David Nitsch Jr, Zane Nitsch, Zac Smith, Zachary Smith, Jeff Nitsch and Jody Morrow.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church or Koerth Catholic Cemetery.