With broken hearts, we thank God for the life of Michael Hoeltzel, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, who passed away Friday, April 14, 2023, surrounded by his family and pets.

Our beloved Mike, with his beautiful soul, was a gifted intellectual, whose devotion to family was his first priority. Born on October 16, 1948, he was raised on a farm outside of Enid, Oklahoma, where he graduated one of thirteen students from Pioneer School.  He then attended Oklahoma State University, earning both a Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering.  He later earned an MBA from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi.  Starting as an engineer and eventually, corporate development, Mike's value was widely admired and recognized by his colleagues at Valero and NuStar Energy Corporations. Upon his retirement, Mike created a petroleum economics consulting company, MH Petronomics.

Mike's love of life was boundless.  He and Vicki, his wife of fifty years, traveled all over the United States and Europe.  In addition to travel, relaxation for Mike was playing the stock market, golfing, attending Spurs games, watching the Oklahoma State Cowboys and time with pets, especially Marcel and Sidney.

Mike and Vicki met while he was working for Exxon in Kingsville, where she was a graduate student at Texas A&I University.  They married in 1972, and raised two beautiful daughters in Corpus Christi.  In 2000, Mike and Vicki moved to San Antonio, making many new friends and becoming avid Spurs fans.  Their lives flourished with the birth of their cherished granddaughter, Clara.

Heaven has become much richer with the arrival of Mike and his beautiful inner spirit.  He was welcomed by his parents, George and Hertha Hoeltzel, his parents-in-law, Ralph and Jeanne Galvan, his brother-in-law, Ralph Galvan, III, sister-in-law, Erma Hoeltzel, and many friends and family, including his best friend and golfing buddy, Augustin Collin.

Mourning, but ever grateful for his love, are the love of his life, Edythe "Vicki" Hoeltzel, daughters: Jeanne Marie Drehs (Mark) of San Antonio, Texas and Allison Savini (Marco) of Bologna, Italy; his granddaughter, Clara Drehs; brother, Bruce Hoeltzel; sister, Connie Lewellen (Richard); nephew, Greg Lewellen; nieces: Robyn Guest (David) and Christine Lewelle; and godsons: William Tarrant (Ruthe) and Jay Collin.  Also left with saddened hearts, are his Galvan, Hoeltzel, and Stowers family members, who mourn him, but are consoled with the thought that it is not goodbye, but rather, "until then."

Words cannot express our gratitude to Dr. Amanda Bucheit, Jake, Johanna, and the entire oncology staff at the START Center for their thoughtfulness and caring treatment of our Mike. Together, his medical family gave him the strength to persevere. A special thank you to nurses, Louie and Lucy, and physical therapist, Rocky, from Theracare; also to his faithful caregiver, Maria Ruiz, for her unwavering love and support. From the bottom of our broken hearts, we thank you all.

All Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 ; the family and friends will begin gathering at 11:30 a.m. at Guardian Funeral Home, 5922 Crosstown Corpus Christi, Texas 78417 with the Chapel Service to be celebrated at 12:30 p.m.
Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. in Rose Memorial Park, 2731 Comanche St. Corpus Christi, Texas 78408

Serving as pallbearers will be, Dr. Raul Prezas, Larry Dechant, Sr., Mark Rodriguez, Mike Maldonado, Sr., Robert J. Gonzalez, Sr., Robert E. Stowers, II, Ron Tarrant.
Honorary pallbearers will be, Freddie Martinez, Sr., Honorable Judge Robert Galvan, Jay Collin, Lee Martinez, Jr., Steve Hays, William Tarrant.