Submitted by: Dan Rich

Martin Gerhard Bornemann

May 26, 1908 - March 12, 2002

South Bend Tribune 3/14/2002

Martin Gerhard Bornemann, 93, of Cleveland Road, Granger, Ind., died at 2:28 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind.

Mr. Bornemann is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce (Perkins); his daughters, Irene Nankey of Eustis, Fla., Martha (Robert) Page of South Bend, Mary (Richard) Dull of Syracuse, Ind.; and his son, Phillip (Kathy) Bornemann of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 12 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ema, after 14 years of marriage; his sisters, Meta, Emma and Elsie; a brother, William; and by his parents, William and Elsbeth Bornemann. Born and raised in Bremen, Ind., he graduated from Bremen High School. Gerhard served as a member of the Bremen Town Board and the Bremen Community Hospital. He founded Bornemann Products, Inc., in Bremen in 1946, where he manufactured bicycle saddle covers and various other types of foam padded products. He also operated a wholesale division of artificial leather and fabrics, and a retail factory outlet store. He established wholesale jobbers in 30 states. He sold his business in 1965 when he retired, and moved to Granger in 1976. Mr. Bornemann was a founding member of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Granger in 1971. He was instrumental in organizing the church where he served as chairman for the first five years. Gerhard was a trusted, respected and well-loved man by his family, friends and co-workers. His achievements and accomplishments in this life are many; he will be missed. May God bless him and keep him, and may he rest in peace.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today, March 14, in the Welsheimer Funeral Home, 17033 North Cleveland Road, South Bend. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 15, in Peace Lutheran Church, Cleveland Road, Granger. He will be laid to rest in the Bremen Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Peace Lutheran Church and/or Peace Lutheran School, 16791 Cleveland Road, Granger, IN 46530.

Editor: He married Joyce Perkins 5-31-1944 in St. Joseph County IN.