Herb Phelan

Herb Phelan was born in 1939, the oldest son of Herbert and Marge (Conley) Phelan in Norwalk, CT. The family soon moved to Bronx, NY, where they lived until Herb completed 8th grade at Holy Rosary School in the Bronx where he was taught by the Presentation Sisters, three of whom he affectionately communicated with until 2010. He visited with his 7th grade teacher Sr. Rita the year she celebrated her 105th birthday.

In 1953, Herb moved back to Norwalk, Connecticut, with his mother and younger brothers, Ken, Russ, and sister Patti. Herb joined the Navy in 1956, serving four years as a sonar man aboard the destroyer USS Miller. His four years in the Navy were a fond memory and unique experience in that most of the crewmen stayed in touch throughout their lives. In retirement, this bond of military friendships resulted in a yearly Miller reunion for twenty years where over fifty of the crew and their wives met yearly reminiscing about their youth and pride in serving their country aboard the Miller.

After the Navy, Herb attended the University of Connecticut. He then went to work as an electronics technician with Perkin Elmer Electronics, eventually working in Baton Rouge. In

1964, he came to Houston on a service call with fellow technician T. J. Cegelski, who set Herb up on a blind date with his sister Maxine in Rosenberg to go to a Cegelski Reunion in Chappell Hill,TX. He loved the kielbasa, the Polish polkas and jokes, and learning “Jak Se Mas.” On their third date, Herb proposed and Maxine accepted. They married at Holy Rosary Church in Rosenberg in 1965. He always fondly referred to her as his “child bride” and said he fell in love with Maxine, her extended Cegelski family, Mama Cegelski’s Sunday dinners and her homemade pies. Herb had a special love for Maxine’s father Max whom he said he respected more than any man he ever knew.

In their early marriage Herb worked as a salesman of analytical instrumentation for Phillips Electronics. They lived in Irving, Texas, where their older son Herb III was born and later in Houston where younger son Michael was born. Herb also was business manager of the OB/GYN Dept of Baylor College of Medicine, and later with Port Financial Co where he was sent by banks to work with companies facing bankruptcy.

Though he spent his childhood in the Bronx, Herb loved Texas from his first visit here, and he loved the small town life of Rosenberg and the friendly people here. He and Maxine moved to Rosenberg in 1972 where he loved the fact that his boys also attended a Holy Rosary School as he had in the Bronx. Herb was active in his parish life as a member of Knights of Columbus 2801, various parish committees, Bazaar Chairman, and with the Holy Rosary Scout Troop.

Herb’s love of Rosenberg led to an active role in local politics. He believed that a person best makes a difference politically at the local level. He served on City Council, served as interim City Manager and on many City Committees throughout his life. He always believed that the city will prosper to the extent that its citizens stay involved. He also served as President of Rosenberg Little League several years.

Anyone who knew Herb knew he always had a hobby interest. He built ship models, learned canning from Mama Cegelski, made homemade wine, tooled leather, and took great pride in winning a County Fair Rosette for his handcrafted deerskin vest. He most loved deer hunting and introducing his sons at an early age to the rituals and joy of hunting on a deer lease in Texas. Herb’s constant passion in life was reading. His sons said their image of their dad will always be his sitting in his chair, reading a book, probably about World War II history.

Among his greatest joys in life were his yearly car trips in retirement, traveling throughout America to Navy reunions with his “child bride,” and his pride in his two sons Herb and Michael who became good men with the help of their wives: Herb with his wife Amy and Michael with his wife Rhonda. The greatest joy in his later life came from his being PoPo to granddaughter “sweet girl” Erica and grandson TJ. He enjoyed watching Erica’s soccer games and patiently letting her spend 30 minutes choosing a fingernail polish color on a trip to Target. He enjoyed TJ’s baseball games from T-ball to George Ranch High School play, and he loved sharing a hunt in West Texas when TJ bagged a deer bigger than any his PoPo had ever shot. He most loved that Erica and TJ patiently and respectfully listened when he bored them with his stories of his growing up as the Irish kid with his Italian buds in the Bronx, his summers in New Hampshire picking apples with his Grandma Ann, and his days in the Navy when he changed from a boy to a man.

Herb was a Yankee by birth, but a Texan by choice. He could tell the best Irish jokes to his friends at the Bohemian Hill. He treasured his 30+ years of weekly midnight adoration at Holy Rosary with his God, which he called his private talk with the “Big Fella.” He loved his family, his country, and his life in Rosenberg. For the last several years, Herb battled health issues uncomplainingly. God blessed him with a lucid, loving farewell with his family at the end of his struggles. He passed away March 24th, and he will be missed dearly by family and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents Herbert Phelan, Sr. and Marge Phelan, his brothers Ken and Russ, nephew Alan Phelan, in-laws Max and Genevieve Cegelski, and brothers-in-law TJ and Daniel Cegelski.

He is survived by wife Maxine, son Herb Phelan III and wife Amy, son Michael Phelan and wife Rhonda, granddaughter Erica, grandson TJ, sister Patti and husband Jack Suhoza of South Carolina, sisters-in-law Sharon Phelan of Connecticut, Dorothy Cegelski of Richmond, and Anita Cegelski of League City, brother-in-law Ed Cegelski and wife Lynette of Stafford and numerous nieces, nephews, shipmates, and friends.

Services will be held in the chapel of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg on Thursday, April 4th, with visitation starting at 9:30 and service starting at 10:30 with Rev. William D. Bartniski officiating. Burial, with military honors to follow at West Gethsemane Gardens in Rosenberg.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Herb’s memory can be made to Holy Rosary Preserving our Faith, 1416 George St, Rosenberg, TX, or a charity of your choice.

Pall bearers are TJ Phelan, Robert Wolter, Bernd Rahm, Troy Burditt, Stanton Nowak and Rodney Blinka.

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 Blvd. (Hwy 59 South @ FM 2218), Rosenberg, Texas 77471, Phone: 281-341-8800.