Memorials › Donald Joseph Lenertz

Donald Joseph Lenertz

18 Sep 1918 – 12 Feb 2004

Birth18 Sep 1918
Death12 Feb 2004
CemeteryPustejovsky Memory Garden Cemetery
Hallettsville , Lavaca County , Texas , USA
Added byLarry G. Jirkovsky on 08 May 2023
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234564238

Bio

Donald J. Lenertz, of Hallettsville, died Thursday, February 12, 2004, at the age of 85. He was born September 18, 1918, in Remsen, Iowa, to the late Charles and Hilda Brill Lenertz. He was a member of the Catholic Church. Don, as he was known by family and friends, grew up in Austin, Texas. He attended Austin High School and The University of Texas. He was a B-29 bomber pilot in World War II and flew 27 missions over Japan. After the war, Don finished college at The University of the Pacific in Stockton, California and attended one year at the American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona. Following college, he spent nearly ten years overseas working for Procter and Gamble and was instrumental in building the first plant overseas. Don returned to the states in 1955 and joined into a partnership, "Auto Parts & Machine Company" with his brothers. He served as President of the company for twenty years. During the past years, Lenertz served as President of the Hatch Bend Country Club; President of the Port Lavaca Chamber of Commerce and President of the Rotary Club where he received the coveted Paul Harris Fellowship award. He was a Chairman of the Port Lavaca Planning Board for about 17 years and served for many years on the City Tax Board of Equalization and the Calhoun County School Tax Board of Equalization. He was Chairman of the first Calhoun County Central Tax Appraisal District. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Rotary Club. Don served as President of the Automotive Wholesalers of Texas in 1982-1983. Don and his loving wife, Dorothy, were married for 26 years. They lived their entire married life in Port Lavaca, Texas until 1999, when they retired to their country place in Lavaca County. Don loved life and people and there was never a kinder or more gentle person. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Don was a gentleman in the truest sense as well as a good friend and neighbor. He will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Pustejovsky Lenertz; his daughter, Donna Klaas and husband Jeff of Austin; his stepdaughter, Lori Balfanz and husband Gene of Port Lavaca; his stepson, Mark Lienemann and wife Melissa of Victoria, and six stepgrandchildren, Brett and Morgan Lienemann, Kody Balfanz, Darick Canion and Emily and Sam Klaas. He is also survived by his sister, Naomi Fleming of San Marcos and his brother, Oscar Lenertz of Austin. He was preceded in death by stepson, Arlyn Lienemann and brother, Hilary Lenertz. A rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 18, at Sacred Heart Church A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church with the Rev. John Peters officiating. A military burial will be at Pustejovsky's Memory Garden Cemetery under the direction of Kubena Funeral Home in Hallettsville, 361-798-3271 and the V.F.W. Victoria Advocate, The (TX) - Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Inscription

1ST LT US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II

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