Submitted by: Dan Rich
Herbert L. Zechiel
South Bend Tribune 11/28/2007
WYATT - Herbert L. Zechiel, 86, died of natural causes at
9:35 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, in his residence. He was born Aug. 30,
1921, in Benton Harbor, to the late LeRoy and Mildred Zechiel. He
was also preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Carl
Zechiel. He was a lifetime Wyatt area resident, was a staff
sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II serving as a
waist gunner on a B17 with the Flying Fortress, was a member of
the American Legion and the Farm Bureau, and was a past treasurer
of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Woodland for many years. He was a
farmer and worked at Bremen Bearings.
On Oct. 10, 1943, in St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Woodland, he married Ruth Kline, who survives.
Also surviving are a daughter, Kay (Bob) Harrell of
Maineville, OH; two sons, Lee (Susan) Zechiel of Gurnee, IL, and
Rev. Tim (Marie) Zechiel of Steeleville, IL; seven grandchildren,
Brian (Chris) Zechiel of Gurnee, Darren (Niki) Zechiel of Spring,
TX, Jennifer (Josh) Elledge of Holland, MI, Katie (Sean) Bradley
of Provo, UT, Briana (Douglas) Schwartz of Decatur, IN, Charissa
(Aaron) Volkert of Woodburn, IN, and Erin (Shaun) Seitz
of Coldwater, OH; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in St.
Paul Lutheran Church in Woodland, with Rev. Karl Brenner
officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul Cemetery, Woodland.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the
funeral home, and one hour before services in St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Woodland. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 15697 New Road, Mishawaka, IN, in
Woodland; or to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111
Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637. The Mishler Funeral Home
in Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements.