Rep. Jeb Hensarling is mourning his father, Charles “Chase” Hensarling, who died Sunday at the age of 86.  

Hensarling’s spokesperson sent an email with the news Tuesday morning, explaining that the Texas Republican had to unexpectedly return home last week due to the family emergency. The Financial Services chairman was absent during the vote on the year-end spending package on Dec. 11. According to an obituary posted Tuesday, Hensarling’s father graduated from Texas A&M University and served in the U.S. Army. He was a poultry farmer who also served as president of the Texas Egg Council. Chase was also an active member of the Lutheran church.  

Hensarling’s biography on his website says he grew up working on his father’s farm, but Roll Call also learned in 2003 that his father gave him his first taste of politics. When Hensarling was eight years old, his father had him and a friend deliver a few carton of eggs to the governor of Texas during “Egg Month.”  

According to the obituary, Hensarling’s father “was known far and wide for his humor and friendliness. He never met a stranger. He often told jokes that were more humorous to him than to those who heard them, with many an eye roll from his wife, Ann.”  

The visitation and services will be held Wednesday at Abiding Savior’s Lutheran Church in Cameron, Texas.  

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