Hobert Winebrenner

Hobert Winebrenner, 88, a resident of Merriam, passed away at 8:45 a. m. on Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne after an extended illness.e He was born on April 14, 1921 to the late Opal Ressler.e His pride and joy was his family.e He is survived by his wife of 64 years Marian (Poppele) Winebrenner; children Steve (Valerie) Winebrenner of Fulton, Md., and George (Jill) Winebrenner and Jane Ann (Bill) Stroup, both of Columbia City; grandchildren Kristina Tsuleff, Sarah Ball, Kara Kehoe, Joshua Stroup, Eric Winebrenner, and Kathleen Heimann; and six great-grandchildren. Hobert retired from General Electric in Fort Wayne after 40 years of service.e In his younger years he was a mail carrier for USPS.e He also worked for L. I. Griffith in construction.e He was a World War II Army veteran, and served as a sergeant with the 358th regiment, 90th infantry division.e He served for three years overseas in the European theater including Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Bastogre.e He was honored with many medals including the purple heart with bronze cluster, silver star, five bronze stars, bronze arrowhead, French croix de guerre with Moselle-Saar Rivers Palm, and the POW medal.e He authored the book "Bootprints" which chronicled his experiences in the war.e He was a member of the Albion American Legion Post 246, Ninetieth Division Association, and the General Electric Quarter Century Club. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a. m. Wednesday at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 315 S. Line St., Columbia City, withe Father Larry Kramer, the celebrant.e The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p. m. Tuesday at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco, or at the church one hour prior to the service.e A Vigil service will be held at 4 p. m. Tuesday at the mortuary.e Burial with military graveside rites will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.e For those who wish, memorials may be directed to St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, MTe 59004e e