Leonard Michael Moeller, age 77, passed away peacefully from this life on September 12, 2024 with Nora, his wife of 25 years, and his son Cullen Moeller by his side. Mike spent his early life farming and ranching with his dad in Guadalupe County east of San Marcos, Texas. He was born in Austin, Texas on June 26, 1947 to Leonard Oscar Moeller and Corinda Crews Moeller, the first of three children. He received his high school diploma from San Marcos High School in 1964. He graduated from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree. From 1968 to 1972, he was a speech and debate teacher at San Marcos High School. Many students in San Marcos remember him fondly for his quick wit and knowledge of the subject matter. For his Master’s degree in Public Affairs, he graduated from the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, in 1974. Mike was in the third graduating class of the school, with one of the lectures given by LBJ himself.
Mike served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1970 -1975 (Honorable Discharge), classified as an Engineer. He received a Sharpshooter Medal with Rifle Bar during his service.
He began his life in public service as the Executive Director of the Texas Legislative Property Tax Commission and worked there from 1974-1977. He then became the Executive Director of the Texans for Equitable Taxation from 1978 to 1981. In 1981 he became the President of the Texas Farmers Union and served through1985, also serving during the same timeframe as the Chairman of the Board of the National Farmers Union (1983-1985). In 1985 Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower recruited Mike to become the Deputy Director of the Texas Department of Agriculture. He remained in this position until 1991.
He began his consulting career in 1992 and also served as the Manager/Trustee of the Moeller Family Trust, which included ranching, oil and gas ventures.
Mike was an avid reader, loved all kinds of music and was a connoisseur of art and bourbon! He often purchased expensive bourbon just to save it and not open it, saying, “We need to save this bottle.”
He loved the land. He found solace in being on the land, fixing the windmills, hunting with his dad, his son, his grandsons, and his good friends. He often spent time alone walking around the ranches and in the mountains of Colorado at the Toltec Gorge property.
One of Mike’s favorite things was to travel this country and the world with Nora and his family and friends. They had many adventures in Alaska, Vermont, Las Vegas, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington, Big Bend, and other areas in Texas. World travel took them to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom, Wales (to see the final concert of his beloved Everly Brothers), Canada, the Caribbean, Aruba, Spain and of course Mexico!
One of his most favorite trips was with his son Cullen to New Zealand to watch Cullen successfully hunt for a red stag. He traveled with him to Belgium, Germany, England, Luxemburg, and Alaska.
Mike’s close friends will tell you that they never wanted to play trivia games with him, unless they were on his team, because he would always beat them. If you had a question about an area while you were traveling with him, he always knew the answer.
His final trip is with our Lord, our God!
Mike was preceded in death by his loving parents Leonard Oscar Moeller and Corinda Crews Moeller and his sister, Sally Moeller Kingsbury. He is survived by his wife, Nora Linares-Moeller; son Cullen Moeller and wife Christi, and his beloved grandchildren, Cade and Coy Moeller; his sister, Anne Moeller Carson (husband Jack Carson) and bother-in-law Tim Kingsbury (wife Jan). He is also survived by many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends he considered family.
Mike was a faithful Methodist and life time member of the Buda United Methodist Church. He adored the Virgin de Guadalupe and paid homage to her by visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City with Nora and his dear friends.
The family wishes to also especially recognize his caregiver, Sonia Zuniga, for her untiring love and dedication during Mike’s final months. A special thank you to Blue Bonnet Palliative Care/ Hospice for taking such good care of him in his last month.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to: Sally M. Kingsbury Sarcoma Research Foundation, PO Box 311097, New Braunfels, TX, 78131 or a charity of your choice.
Family will receive friends at Pennington Funeral Home, from 5:30 to 8:30pm on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche St., San Marcos, Texas. A celebration of Mike’s life will be planned by the family in the coming weeks.
