1936- 2023

Carol Louise Koenig nee Figueira, 86, a longtime resident of New Ulm, TX passed away April 9, 2023, in Pearland. Born July 12, 1936, she was the youngest of four children to Louise Karcher and Carroll Leon Figueira.

A 1955 graduate of Jeff Davis High School, she later attended the University of Houston while working at American General Life Insurance Company. She met H. W. “Buddy” Koenig early in 1958, and the two married later that year on July 4 in Galveston.

She was a sweet lady with a strong spine, moored by faith, filled with wisdom, and armed with a strong BS meter. Although surrounded by men, Buddy and her four raucous boys, she had a menacing look that no one could misinterpret. A very smart cookie, she truly was the woman behind the man. When Buddy struggled, Carol would give loving encouragement to always keep trying.

However, she also knew the value of strong medicine and when to administer it. After a rough day of knocking on doors at the start of Buddy’s insurance career, he came home and told her that he was done and that he would never go back. She turned to him, smiled that little smile, and said “That’s OK, the world needs ditch diggers too.” The rest, as they say, is history.

Carol&Buddyescaped the big city for “God’s Country” in 1985 when they bought a ranch in the New Bremen Community of Austin County. The two had become county folk again, and Carol took on the exciting new role of “Lead Cow.”

After Buddy threw his hat into the political ring as candidate to become Chairman of the Austin County Republican Party, Carol was his campaign manager, communications director, advertising agent, and all-around support staff. She was active in the Republican Party on a county and state level and was a huge part of many successful events including the Austin County Republican Party - Grand Old Picnics hosted at Der Koenig Ranch.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents Carroll Leon Figueira and Louise Karcher Figueira; sister, Ruby Kay Seale; brothers: Robert Leon Figueira, and James Walter Figueira.

Carol leaves behind her husband of 64 years 9 months and 5 days, H.W. “Buddy” Koenig, Jr.; sons: Stephen Vincent Koenig, (Usha), Kenneth Glen Koenig, (Celestine), Robert Scot Koenig, and Henry Will Koenig III, (Kellie); grandchildren: Natalie Flaherty, (James), Kara Reyes, (Justin), Stephen Vincent Koenig II, (Rachel), Joseph Henry Koenig, Hailey Keeling, (Daniel Guerrette) Garrett Scot Koenig, and Palma Louise Koenig; great grandchildren: Conor, Cara and Aine Flaherty, and Ryan Reyes.

Memorial services were held Saturday May 6, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Schmidt Funeral Home, 12029 Highway 36, Bellville, TX. (www.schmidtfunerals. com) In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Tunnel to Towers Foundation providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. www.t2t.org