Joseph Herrmann

Joseph Michael Herrmann passed away April 4, 2019, at the age of 62.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 pm, Tuesday, April 9, at Hillier Funeral Home of BRYAN. Services will be at 10 am, Wednesday, April 10, at the funeral home.

Joe was born September 28, 1956, in Rochelle, Illinois to Paul Vincent and Shirley Ann (Hackman) Herrmann. He grew up on the family farm in Steward, Illinois, as the oldest of eight children. As a teenager at St. Bede Academy in Peru, Illinois, he played chess and won a number of awards. Joe went onto receive his bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University before getting his PhD in mathematics from Indiana University.

While he was a graduate student at Indiana University, Joe met his future wife, Porntipa "Sam" Herrmann. They were married in Uthong, Thailand, on December 28, 1980. Together they had two children: Mariesa and Charles. His family, especially his children and grandchildren, were the most important to him. He taught his children math and helped them with their homework. When his son Charles was growing up, Joe served as a coach for Charles' chess club and for his baseball and soccer teams. As a grandfather, he has enjoyed talking with his grandchildren and singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" with his two-year-old granddaughter Claire.

Joe worked as an associate professor of mathematics at Texas A&M University for thirteen years. In his free time, he was a huge fan of science fiction, including the television shows Star Trek and Stargate, and Texas A&M athletics, especially football. He also enjoyed going out to eat with his family and watching movies. In general, his main focus was his family. Some of his favorite memories were made traveling with them on many trips across the U.S. and to Thailand.

Joe leaves behind his wife Porntipa "Sam", his daughter Mariesa and her husband Eric Milliken, his son Charles, his granddaughters Amy and Claire, his father Paul, his brother Curt, his brother Mike (and his wife Sue), his sister Cathy, his brother Pat, his sister Nancy (and her husband Dan), his brother Dave (and his wife Stephanie), and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Shirley and his brother Wally.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Texas A&M University by visiting www.txamfoundation.com/How-To-Give/Honorary-And-Memorial.aspx.