Roll Call Tribute

John Richard Hoelzel, Jr. 

November 29, 1960 - November 19, 2021 

Memorial Service for John Richard Hoelzel, Jr., age 60, of Ivanhoe, TX will be held on Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home, Bonham, TX. Rev. Joe Goodson will officiate. Interment will follow at Lamasco Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Kevin Wall, Jose Luis Zuniga, Pedro Salas Villa, Guadalupe Salas Villa, Saul Moreno, and Jose Luis Galvan.

John Richard Hoelzel, Jr. went to Heaven on Friday, November 19, 2021. He was born on November 29, 1960, in El Paso, TX to John and Pat Hoelzel. John graduated from Allen High School in 1979. He went on to Texas A&M University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture in 1983. WHOOP!!! At Texas A&M University, John founded and was the first president of The Aggie Entrepreneurship Club, known as ENVE. During his college years, he began harvesting Yaupon Holly trees in College Station and selling them in the Dallas Market.

Upon graduation he formed Yaupon John Company. John’s company has planted thousands of trees in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. John is a legend in successfully transplanting specimen trees. He worked on many projects that will maintain his tree legacy for years to come. For the past ten years, he has worked alongside his brother Shawn on their farm in Bonham growing trees from acorns.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Michael. Survivors include his brother Shawn and Karen Hoelzel and niece and nephews Ben, Blake, and Aubin, his sister Molly and Joe Goodson and nieces Gracie and Faith, and his cousin Allison Spurlock.

John was an avid fan of the band Rush. One of his favorite Bible verses was Hebrew 13:2, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” John had a pure and kind heart and knew through his faith that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. John lived his life thankfully putting others before himself. He will be truly missed.

No formal visitation will be held. To convey condolences or sign an online registry, please visit www.coopersorrells.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Reba’s Ranch House (5036 Reba Dr., Denison, TX 75020) or Olive Tree Ministries (PO Box 1452, Maple Grove, MN 55311-6452).