Roll Call Tribute

Joachim Paul "Joe" Pater 

June 30, 1934 - September 6, 2024 

Joachim “Joe” Paul Pater was born in Matzkirch, Germany on June 30, 1934, to Fritz and Martha Urbach Pater.

At the end of World War II, the Pater family relocated to Hamelin, Germany. Joe earned a certificate as a master baker and worked for two years in the Black Forest.

He joined the German Army as a radio man. While sharing barracks with the U.S. Army, Joe realized that he wanted to emigrate to the United States. With the help of his uncle, Reverend Frank Pater of Vattman, Texas, he came to the United States in 1956, and was sponsored by Vernie and Blanche Hubert of Riviera, Texas. The Huberts and their children became his beloved American family. He enrolled at Texas A&I College in Kingsville. The Huberts then sent him to Texas A&M University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in math and physics.

Joe was later joined in the United States by his sister Gisela Papenfuss and her family, his sister Johanna Nealon Woodbury, and his brother Arnold.

After graduating from Texas A&M, Joe taught German and math at Blinn College for two years. In 1963, he moved to Houston and began working for AMF Tuboscope, where he worked for 36 years. While at AMF Tuboscope, he enrolled at the University of Houston and earned his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree. Joe traveled around the world with Tuboscope as a teacher of non-destructive testing techniques. A polylinguist, he taught his classes in French, Spanish, Russian, and his native German.

In 1964 he met Blanche Hrachovy. They were married on December 26, 1964, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, and celebrated 59 years of married life. Joe and Blanche had one daughter, Anne. Anne, her husband John Uglum III, and Joe’s grandsons Michael and Patrick Uglum were his pride and joy.

After retiring from AMF Tuboscope in 1999, Joe established his own company, Joe Pater NDET, and traveled the world teaching non-destructive testing techniques until he finally retired in 2010.

Joe was known for his wit and his storytelling. He often entertained people with stories of his adventures as a youth, and of his family escaping into the Czech Republic during World War II.

Joe enjoyed watching Texas Aggie football games, skiing, reading, and music. He was a patron of the Round Top Festival Institute, Shakespeare at Winedale, and the Houston Grand Opera.

Joe is survived by his wife Blanche, his daughter Anne, Anne’s husband John, his grandsons Michael and Patrick, and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Richmond, Texas.

The burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 16, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery near Ellinger, Texas.

The family requests no flowers, however, they would be honored if you would make a donation in Joe’s name to the charity of your choice.

Tributes and words of condolence may be left for the family at www.davisgreenlawnfh.com. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3900 B. F. Terry Boulevard (Highway 59 South @ FM 2218), Rosenberg, Texas 77471.