Born January 21, 1926 in Seguin, Texas, Rex Ross Laechelin departed his beloved home of Seguin on January 17, 2017, just four days shy of arrival 91 years earlier. Rex was the youngest of four children born to Frank Charles Laechelin, Sr. (who departed this earth, four days after Rex's birth) and Wanda Leber Laechelin both of whom were of Guadalupe County pioneer stock.

Rex was a good student in Seguin schools and a starting end on the Seguin High School football team. He was so very proud to have attained the highest level in Boy Scouts--the esteemed Eagle Scout. Football scholarships beckoned at UT Austin, but service to his country beckoned louder. During World War II, he volunteered for the military with the goal of becoming a pilot in the Army Air Corp. He attended flight training ground school as well as flight instrument repair school in California. Days short of earning his combat wings, the war ended along with his dreams of becoming a pilot. However, not all was lost as the instrument repair knowledge equipped him with the necessary skills for his life's career as a watch repairman and fine custom jewelry artisan. In addition, his training in Merced, CA afforded the opportunity to meet and marry the love of his life, Katherine Toews, on September 7, 1945.

After his military discharge and the birth of their first child, Cheryl, in Merced, the young family moved to Texas and shortly thereafter, Rex and Katherine opened their first jewelry store in Bishop, TX. During the next 25 years, there were Rex's Jewelist – Some Bigger, None Better - in Bishop, Kingsville and Sinton, Texas. During the years in Bishop, Rex and Katherine had four additional children; --Judy, Rexanne, Frank C. III and lastly Ross. In the 1970s, after the death of his beloved brother and partner, Frank Laechelin, as well as the failing health of his mother, Rex and Katherine made the decision to move back to his hometown of Seguin, and downsize his jewelry business. Rex continued as a retail jeweler in Seguin, for about 20 more years then semi-retired due to his failing eyesight, which limited his ability to do precise work, like diamond setting.
Rex enjoyed memberships in the Masonic Lodge, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, The Tri City Flyers Model Airplane Club in Kingsbury and was a charter member of the Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Seguin.

Rex and Katherine celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary on September 7, 2016, but soon their failing health began taking its toll on them. He suffered a number of maladies during his last several months, none of which were fatal alone, but in combination were more than his body could overcome. His faithful, God-loving, indomitable spirit was present to the very end. After a lifetime of refining and polishing gold, he now walks on streets of gold along with his dearly departed mother, father, two sons, brother, sister, granddaughter and grandson basking in the light of Our Heavenly Father and in the presence of Jesus Christ forevermore.

Rex is preceded in death by his parents; sons, Frank C. III and Ross; brother, Frank C. II; grandson, John Alan Arthur, Jr.; sister, Marilynn "Dottie" Culbertson; among others. He is survived by his wife, Katherine; sister, Olive Sorrell; daughters, Cheryl (Oran) Logan, Judy Alvis and Rexanne (Jeff) Thomas; Grandchildren, Julie Arthur, Jamey McCurry (Dawn), Pete McCurry (Andrea), Katy (Matt) Curtis, Lindsey (Kyle) Robinson, Natalie (Derek) Santos, Eric (Elise) Laechelin and Philip Laechelin; 13 great grandchildren (with another on the way); two nephews and a niece.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 19, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. at Tres Hewell Mortuary. Funeral Services will be Friday, January 20, 2017 at 2 pm at Tres Hewell Mortuary with Rev. Terry Davis officiating. Interment with military honors under the auspices of American Legion H U Wood Post 245 will follow at Riverside Cemetery in the Laechelin Family Plot. Family members will serve as pallbearers. Memorial Contributions may be made to The Gideons International, P. O. Box 736, Seguin, Texas, 78156 or to the charity of one's choice.