Victor John Hegemann

Victor John Hegemann, a man whose generous spirit and abiding warmth touched all who knew him, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2026, in Southlake, Texas. He was born on June 3, 1940, and over the course of 85 years lived a life defined by kindness, intellect, and a deep devotion to family and community. Raised on a small farm south of Howells, Nebraska, Victor grew up alongside his twelve siblings under the guidance of his parents, Dorothea and

Theodore Hegemann, who instilled in him a strong Catholic faith, a love of learning, and a quiet, enduring perseverance.

Victor met and married Mary Ann, his wife of 63 years, in Howells, Nebraska. After graduating from Wayne State College, he began his distinguished career in education as a high school mathematics teacher in Clarkson, Nebraska. Victor and Mary Ann welcomed two of their four children while in Clarkson. The family then relocated to Norman, Oklahoma, where Victor completed a Masters degree in Mathematics. His professional journey continued in 1967 as a faculty member at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. Having later earned his PhD in Statistics at the University of Missouri, he rose to Mathematics Department Chair at Cameron University. In 1985, Victor embarked on a new path at Texas Instruments in Richardson, Texas, using his statistical background in the analysis and optimization of semiconductor manufacturing. Always a teacher, he enjoyed training coworkers on the use of a tool called design of experiments. This move was emblematic of his lifelong pursuit of knowledge and his dedication to nurturing curious minds and bringing clarity and insight into complex subjects. He combined this passion with service to his community in retirement, as a volunteer and eventually employed as accounting staff for Network of Community Ministries in Richardson, Texas. Nothing else brought greater joy, however, than being recruited by his grandchildren for tutoring in their high school and college coursework.

Yet it was not only his accomplishments that defined him, but the genuine, heartfelt connections he shared with those around him. He delighted in engaging warmly with his friends and neighbors, sharing time with grandchildren, and offering the kind of steady friendship that anchored his community. His faith was central to his identity; actively involved in his local Catholic parishes, he devoted many years as a greeter, reader, and usher and brought joy to many as a member of the parish choir. His love of music extended beautifully to his performances in a barbershop chorus where his voice harmonized with friends in uplifting songs.

Victor cherished moments of relaxation and friendly competition, particularly playing card games with close companions and family. His enthusiasm for sports was palpable—he could be counted on to eagerly anticipate the start of every new season for the Texas Rangers and was proudly following the Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team in the NCAA tournament this past March.

Victor's running stands out as a reflection of his focus and determination. His meticulously kept logs show he ran well over 30,000 miles in his lifetime, including completing nearly three dozen marathons, running “rim-to-rim” through the Grand Canyon, and qualifying for and finishing the Boston Marathon twice. In celebration of his 60th birthday he decided to attempt a 24-hour ultra-distance run that summer with a goal of covering 60 miles. He was delighted as his grandkids paced him in the final laps to the incredible mark of just under 80½ miles completed. A 5k run followed by a cold beer marked his 80th birthday. The remarkable consistency of effort in his running was matched by faithful visits with his cherished running buddies to a donut shop after morning runs where they would analyze their efforts, discuss cures for aches and pains, and solve the world's most pressing problems.

At the heart of Victor’s world was his beloved family, a source of immense joy and pride. He is survived by his devoted wife, Mary Ann Hegemann, of Southlake, Texas. And his children—Brenda (Greg) Kozakis of Colleyville, Texas, Brad (Meg) Hegemann of Rochester, New York, Barbara (Bruce) Balvin of Bedford, Texas, and Beth (Jason) Sharp of Colleyville, Texas —whom he guided with wisdom and humor. Victor took genuine delight in celebrating his family’s important milestones, always using creativity to mark each occasion in a special way.

Most treasured were his nine grandchildren: Emma, Zachary and Elise Hegemann, Nicholas, Nathan and Noah Kozakis, David and Ryan Sharp, and Carlos Balvin, whose laughter and presence brought light to his later years. Victor drove countless miles across Texas and beyond with genuine pleasure to soccer games, science fairs, scout camp-outs, and innumerable school events. Not content to remain a spectator, he was a dependable volunteer at many of the grandchildren’s activities, such as Destination Imagination tournaments or school carnivals. Like the good sport he was, he watched their favorite movies—like The Twilight Saga or the Pokémon films—even if they weren’t really to his taste. He often enlisted their help with repair projects around the house imparting wisdom and humor as part of the project, and he was a ready companion if anyone wanted to play catch or shoot baskets. When the grandchildren were youngsters, every visit to grandpa’s house included a walk to the nearby park to skip stones in the creek. The backyard sufficed for impromptu campouts, complete with s’mores. As his grandchildren grew into their high school years and beyond, they regularly turned to him for guidance on many of life’s decisions.

Victor is also survived by his sister, Sister Dorothy Hegemann of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who continues the family legacy, shaped by his spirit as he was by hers. His parents, Dorothea and Theodore Hegemann, along with the siblings who preceded him in death, remain part of the tapestry that shaped Victor’s deep sense of family and carries on through the next generation.

Reflecting on Victor’s life reveals a man whose intellect was matched only by his heart. We invite all who knew him to honor his lifetime of learning and teaching by embracing curiosity and sharing his spirit of exploration with others. Memorials may be made in his honor to communities close to his heart - St Augustine Indian Mission, www.staugustinemission.org, School Sisters of St Francis, www.sssf.org, and the Howells Community Fund, www.helpinghowells.org. A funeral mass and burial will be held on Friday, July 3, at 10:30am at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Howells, Nebraska. Relatives and friends are invited to a luncheon following the services.