Born in Bellville, Texas on November 16, 1958. Passed away in M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, surrounded by family and friends on October 31, 2022 – Halloween, his favorite holiday.

John was born to Charles Ulrich and Bonnie Goebel Ulrich and grew up on the family dairy farm in Millheim. He had many interests over his lifetime. He loved education and graduated from Bellville High School, Blinn College, and TSTI in Waco. He graduated with honors from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Manufacturing. He also took classes at the University of Houston, and he continued to attend training and seminars throughout his work career.

John was employed by Walmart since 1987. He was a truck shop area manager and once won a state technician of the year award. When truck drivers from around the state came to the Sealy Walmart Distribution Center, they would often ask for John because they knew he was the best.

John also loved traveling, whether it was a short trip to Houston with his brother, Butch, for dinner and a movie, going to the Titanic exhibit and Princess Diane Wedding Dress exhibit with his sister, Sue, (because she wanted him to-how many brothers would do that?), or longer trips including West Texas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota with his best traveling companion, his sister Mary. He loved traveling by car, train, and airplane and especially liked flying at night to see the city’s lights. He also traveled to San Francisco and New York City and enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people.

John also enjoyed fishing, reading, music, arts and museums, and all types of food and he was an excellent cook. He enjoyed spending time with his relatives, he loved kids, and he enjoyed gardening, working on machinery, and collecting tractors.

And then there were the goats. John loved his goats. If he had baby goats who needed to be bottle-fed, they went to work with him; if it was cold, they slept in his house. Many people driving by his place enjoyed seeing John take care of his herd in the pasture.

John was predeceased by his parents, and his sisters, Susie, and Jackie. He is survived by his brother, Jerry (Butch) Goebel, sister Mary Jackson and husband Bob, sister, Sue Gregorcyk and husband Joe and cousins, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and good friends including Bill Wayland, Freddie Harvey, Jeanene Wilson, and Juan and Cindy Gomez.

Although he will always be missed, John will live on through the good influence he had on people and through our many special memories of him. He is a good example of “a life well lived”.

There will be a Celebration of Life for John on Sunday, December 11, 2022, at noon at Millheim Hall. 4460 FM 949, Sealy, Texas 77474 (Millheim)

JOHN PATRICK ULRICH

1958- 2022