John Hugo Engelhardt, Esq. went to be with our Lord on September 2, 2026, in Gruene, Texas, surrounded by his loving family. He was born to Dr. Hugo Tristram Engelhardt and Beulah Lillie (Karbach) on February 3, 1946, in Houston, Texas.

John graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1968. He then taught history at Pearsall High School from 1968 to 1969. He went on to attend St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio and received a Juris Doctor degree in 1973. He opened a private law practice in New Braunfels, Texas in 1973 before beginning his career in law as an examining attorney for Commercial Title Company in San Antonio, Texas in 1975. He was also an advisory director for MBank in Brenham, Texas from 1983 to 1989. He was a member of the National Social Science Honor Society and Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society. He was named Fellow of the College State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Supreme Court Bar of the United States of America. He was named an honorary member of the Cathedral of St. John Lateran and The Papal Cathedral in Rome, Italy. He received the Community Leader of America Award in 1986. Other awards included the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, the Marquis Top Professional, Who’s Who in America, Marquis Who’s Who Humanitarian, Marquis Industry Leader, and Marquis Top Lawyer.

John was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Texas in 1973. He achieved his life’s goal in 2011 when he was admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court and became an officer of the court. He accredited this great honor and all his achievements to his hard work and perseverance and most importantly, the grace of God.

However, his commitment to his career in law and pride in his achievements paled in comparison to his love and devotion to his beloved wife Jasmin and cherished daughters, Angelique and Sabrina. He took the role of husband and father as the greatest honor he was ever given. His dedication to their happiness and success became his ultimate life’s goal. He understood that did not mean just taking care of material needs. It meant always being there, giving his daughters unconditional support to follow their dreams and find their paths in life. It also meant that through the inevitable challenges, he would always stand beside them, never wavering, always seeing their potential and inner beauty, even when they could not. John woke up every morning thanking the Lord for the beautiful wife God brought to him and did everything he could to remind her of his devotion. He sent countless flower bouquets over the years that paled in comparison to the beauty he saw in her. His joy was complete when he could show his love in little ways; buying groceries, mailing bills, watching movies together, giving hugs and happy smiles. He was never at ease until he knew his “Queen Lala” was joyous!

Nothing could surpass John’s love for his family except for his love for our Lord Jesus Christ through the holy Catholic Church. He never wavered in teaching his daughters the faith, not just by word but always by example. He was so proud to stand with his daughters as they received their sacraments. In his constant humility, he was honored to stand with his wife, beside their grandchildren as their godparents at baptism. He was their rock at confession, their biggest supporter at their first communion. It was John’s highest honor to stand next to his granddaughter, Marjesca as her confirmation sponsor in 2024 and again for Zachary as he was confirmed in May 2026, despite his failing health. His daughter, Sabrina, had recently asked him what was the most important lesson he had learned in life. He said, “Always pray.” His answer will surely resonate with us because the example of his unwavering faith will continue work miracles in our hearts, long after the final eulogy.

But John was also a simple, private man. He was so proud to be living nearly off the grid at his ranch in Fischer, Texas. He often bragged that the entrance to his ranch had no physical address! He loved trains and was so happy when his kids and grandkids could go with him to train shows. He often reminisced of the days of train travel with his parents and loved recreating those trips with his own daughters. He gave them memories of unique experiences that they will treasure for a lifetime. He spent countless hours researching itineraries, finding historical sites but also famous restaurants to take his family to. It wasn’t just a vacation. It was education.

John allowed himself few luxuries, except his love for designer ties and suits. They were the one thing he did for himself so he could wear them when he took his family out to steak dinners and on the latest cruise vacation that was always in the works. But John also loved to sneak in a sweet candy when he could get away with it, and he always could!

Just like his own father, John had a dedicated love for finance. He instilled that passion in his daughters and was determined to buy more shares of his favorite stock, once he felt well enough to do so from his hospital bed, just like his father did thirty years ago.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Hugo Tristram Engelhardt and Beulah Lillie (Karbach), and by his brother, Dr. Hugo Tristram Engelhardt, Jr. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jasmin (Wagler), Bulverde, daughters Angelique Thompson of Schertz, Sabrina Engelhardt of Denver, Colorado, seven grandchildren; Marjesca, Zachary, Anniliese, Patrick, Wade, Scarlett, and Lorentz Engelhardt, and numerous other relatives and dear friends that he loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in John’s name to Catholic Charities.

Let us take the greatest qualities of John; his loyalty to his friends and family, his unwavering faith in God, his steadfast love of his wife and children, his limitless patience and humility, his optimism in the face of countless challenges as he prioritized those, he loved above himself. Let us take each of these virtues and apply them to our lives and together, we will keep the memory of John alive until each of us is called before our Creator and our duty in this life is complete.

A rosary will be recited at 11:30 on Friday September 18, 2026, at the chapel at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bulverde, Texas followed by a Mass to be said at 12:00 Noon. Burial will be on Saturday 9-19-2026 at 1:00 pm at the Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham, Texas.