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- Obituary:
Rev. Dr. Robert J. Sebesta
November 16, 1931 - October 6, 2025
Rev. Dr. Robert James Sebesta died on Monday October 6, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. Robert, known as Bob by his friends and family, was 93 years old when he passed. Bob was born on November 16, 1931 in a farmhouse near Caldwell, Texas in Burleson County to Joe Frank and Julia Bravenec Sebesta.
Bob is survived by Claribel, his wife of 70 years, his son Robert J. (Rob) Sebesta, Jr. (Melinda) and their children Major James Sebesta (Sarah), Olivia Jakubowski (Tomek), and Julia Sebesta, his daughter Drs. Cheryl Banks (Bill) and their children Drs. Kristen Beaver (Jared), Austin Banks, and Dr. Emily Banks and daughter Claire Sebesta (Dr. Jackie) and their children Taylor Smith (Yesenia), Joy Smith, and Jordan McGeehon (Timo), 9 great grandchildren (and one on the way), and his brother Rev. Dr. Daniel Sebesta (Marsha).
Bob's childhood education occurred in 3 room Hlavaty Rural School, from grades 1 through 9. He graduated from Caldwell High School in 1948. While living at home, with his parents and 3 brothers, Bob attended the Czech-Moravian Brethren Church in Caldwell.
Bob graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos in 1952 and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1955. Always striving to learn and grow, Bob earned his Doctorate in Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1983.
In the summer of 1952 Bob met the love of his life in Dulac Louisiana and in June of 1955 he married Claribel Joan Brown of the rural community of Raymond near Jennings, Louisiana. Starting their life together and Bob's passionate ministry career immediately after, Bob was ordained as a Presbyterian pastor at his first church in Rocksprings Texas in July of 1955.
Bob lovingly served 5 Presbyterian congregations in Texas during his 42 1/2 years of ministry: Rocksprings, Portland, Harlingen, San Marcos, and Pecos. Bob believed his wife Claribel was half of his ministry because she taught, worked with women's groups, and served in the community of all of their churches. He felt called by God to pastor small churches and enjoyed all parts of a small church's life: preacher, teacher, administrator, organizer, counselor, community relations. He especially enjoyed teaching the Bible, which he continued to do through most of his retirement.
Bob's passion for helping others extended into a strong commitment to community service. Bob actively served in leadership roles in Kiwanis and Lions Clubs in the communities where they lived. Continuing his dedication to service in retirement, he served as Board President for Habitat for Humanity and was recognized as an outstanding facilitator of Parents Helping Parents program for 14 years.
In addition to church specific activities, Bob enjoyed gardening, dancing, history, researching and writing family history, genealogy, and personal memories. He was especially passionate about music and loved singing in the church choir and attending concerts whenever possible.
Bob and Claribel loved to travel. Early in their marriage they lived in Scotland for a year where they both attended St Mary's College at the University of St Andrews. While living there, they spent the summer of 1957 touring Europe, visiting 10 different countries, covering 6188 miles in 75 days on their Lambretta motor scooter (the Blue Dart).
Through Bob's passionate faith and loving embrace of others, he touched countless lives far beyond his local church ministry. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will continue to touch lives for years to come.
The family wishes to express deep gratitude to the wonderful staff at Seguin Assisted Living, the nurses and aids from Guadalupe Regional Hospice Services and our dear Seguin Angels for the tremendous love and care shown to Bob and Claribel over the past several years.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Bob on November 15, 2025 at 10:30 am at First Presbyterian Church Seguin with a light lunch after. The family requests that persons wishing to give memorials make contributions to First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 1121 E. Walnut St., Seguin, Tx 78155 or the charity of their choice.
(Published by Tres Hewell Mortuary of Seguin, TX)
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1931 - 2025 (93 years)
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