Anita Frieda Windecker, Professor Emerita of Music at Texas Lutheran University and founder of the Mid-Texas Symphony passed away on May 11, 2024 at age 95.

Anita Windecker was born in Karnes City, Texas on December 6, 1928 into a home filled every day with classical music. Her father Konrad, a Lutheran minister, had played violin for the St. Paul Symphony while he was at the Seminary there. At his first church assignment, he met, fell in love with and married the pianist and organist, Frieda Loos. Able to speak multiple languages, he was called to serve Russian speaking congregations in Saskatchewan, where he began teaching his 3 sons to play musical instruments. In 1928, he was called to deliver the gospel in German to Karnes City TX and three other communities. Anita was born soon after they arrived.

Baby Anita was wrapped in music, the Christian faith and love. At age 5 she was invited to try the piano after her brother had finished his lesson. The piano teacher told Frieda that her daughter was a music prodigy and the teacher offered to teach Anita for free. By age 8, Anita was playing at her father's churches with her mother and playing public concerts. She learned to play the organ and the harp. Anita, on harp, and Konrad, on violin were invited to play for the District Convention of the American Lutheran Church and a local radio station. She played concerts regularly in junior high and high school.

Anita Windecker attended Texas Lutheran College for two years and then earned a Bachelor's degree in Music at the University of Texas. In 1950, she joined the music faculty of TLU teaching piano. In 1953, she took a sabbatical from TLU to study in New York. Her New York piano coach soon admitted that her skill on the piano was far beyond his ability to coach her and recommended she find a more advanced coach. Future piano star Byron Janis lived in the same building as she, so she knocked at his door. Janis told Anita that he did not coach and he was preparing for his first European tour. After Anita played for him, he agreed to coach her. For the time he was on his European tour, he left her a list of pieces to learn and practice, and asked Adele Marcus, his highly regarded coach at the Juilliard School in New York City, to take up Anita's coaching. Upon returning from the tour, Janis coached Anita for her piano debut at Carnegie Hall on August 9, 1953. A standing ovation and cries for "encore" told the story of her performance that night.

Although her New York coaches wanted her to begin giving concert tours, Anita wanted to do more. Her position at TLU was perfect for her passions of music, playing the piano and teaching. She could also do concert tours in Texas. The decision was an easy one.

Professor Windecker knew that a top tier auditorium would not only help the TLU music school, but all of TLU and the whole community as well. At faculty meetings every year she would propose it as a goal for TLU. Finally, after years of dogged determinism and absolute faith in the outcome, the faculty began chanting "au di tor ium" as she walked into the room. The faculty had given their approval. Measurements taken in the 1,050 seat Jackson Auditorium showed perfect acoustics.

With comparable determinism and faith, in 1977 Professor Windecker started promoting a professional classical symphony. She was aware that neither Seguin nor New Braunfels could support such a thing, but together … In 1978 the Mid-Texas Symphony was born. Today, 46 years later, it continues to grow, delivering exceptional concerts to both cities and surrounding communities.

Anita retired from Texas Lutheran University in 2000, after 50 years on the faculty and many years as head of the Music School. Her gifts of music have been well received. Like the 1928 Windecker living room in Karnes City, music runs through it. When asked how, she would point up and say, "to God the glory."

Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Konrad and Frieda Windecker, and her three brothers, Leo James Windecker, Rev. Arnold Konrad Windecker and Roland Theodore Windecker.

Anita never married. Survivors include nephews and nieces Robert Windecker and wife Judy, Theodore Windecker and wife Charlotte, Gwendolyn Shannon and husband Mickey, Rev. Ronald Windecker and wife Deborah, Paula Milner and husband Brad, Roland Windecker Jr., and 9 great nieces and nephews and other loving family members and friends.

A memorial service celebrating Anita's life will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 3 p.m. at the Chapel of The Abiding Presence on the campus of Texas Lutheran University with the Reverend Marcus Bigott officiating.  A reception will follow in the Timmerman Room at Hein Dining Hall at Texas Lutheran University.

Private interment will be held prior, at Mission Burial Park South in San Antonio, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mid-Texas Symphony, 1000 W. Court St., #3216, Seguin, Texas, 78155, Texas Lutheran University, Development Office, 1000 West Court Street, Seguin, Texas, 78155 or Emanuel's Lutheran Church, 206 N. Travis, Seguin, Texas, 78155.