Leo D. Kerber, 89, a longtime resident of Tippecanoe Lake, Leesburg, died at 9:05 a.m. May 14, 2010, in his home surrounded by loved ones.
He was born Aug. 17, 1920, in Anchor, Ill., to Grover and Gertrude Kerber. He was married to his wife, Lynn, for the past 28 years. She survives.
Living the last 50 years in Kosciusko County, he was a graduate of Illinois State University and did graduate work at the University of Illinois. He taught high school at McHenry, Ill., for several years. He then was the area manager for Surge Dairy Equipment in Ohio for three years and then a sales manager for a large LP gas company for 10 years. He moved to Kosciusko County and became the sales manager for Tri-State Harvestore for 20 year. He retired after being a real estate broker for 20 years.
He was a veteran of World War II and served overseas in combat for 26 months. As a staff sergeant, he served in combat in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Norway. He was wounded in action at Gresse, France, in 1944. He received the Purple Heart, Expert Rifleman, Combat in Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater and Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with Silver Satar and Bronze Arrowheads. He originally served with the American Rangers and later with the American-Canadian Mountain and Paratroop Special Forces.
He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 253 in North Webster and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also was a member of the Elks and St. Anne's Episcopal Church. For many years, he was a landing director of Tippecanoe Lake Property Owner's Association and a member of Tippecanoe Lake Country Club.
Also surviving are a son, Leo D. Kerber Jr., Warsaw; a brother, Paul (and spouse Jean) Kerber, Colfax, Ill.; a stepson, Dee (and spouse Trace) Hinesley, Huntington; two granddaughters, Christine Milleken and Kathleen McCoy, Indianapolis; step-grandchildren: Nickolas, Anndee, Aidan and Alec; and great-grandchildren: Rylie, Olivia, Sophia and Nate. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Ann Maher, Kokomo; a stepdaughter, Therrian Lynn Freeman, Danville; and a brother, Robert Kerber, Colfax, Ill.
Services will be at noon Tuesday at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Warsaw, with Fathers Daniel H. Martins and Brian Grantz officiating. Burial will be in Oswego Cemetery, Leesburg, with military honors by members of North Webster American Legion Post 253.
Calling is from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the church.
McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials to St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 424 W. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580; The Beaman Home, P.O. Box 12, Warsaw, IN 46581; or Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice, 1515 Provident Drive, Warsaw, IN 46580.
Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
