- Date Of Birth: September 20, 1924
- Date Of Death: August 9, 2015
- State: Missouri
Herbert Albert (Sonny) Kuebler passed from this life surrounded by his children and family on August 9, 2015. He was born outside of Gasconade, MO on September 20, 1924 as the youngest child in a large family of four boys and three girls.
In 1943 when he was 19, he was drafted into the US Army, entered active duty service at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, completed basic training at Camp Maskell, NC, and military maneuvers at Camp Forrest, TN. In August 1944, he was deployed to Europe, where he served as an ambulance driver and combat medic for the 224th Medical Company under the 17th Airborne Division. In December 1944, he began his combat service in WWII, when he landed in the battlefields of France in a wooden glider. Under enemy fire, he drove his ambulance from the back of the glider. He participated in the liberation of France and the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium. He was awarded three Bronze Stars for selfless service and superb treatment of wounded soldiers.
Upon his return to Missouri in January 1946, Herb continued his pre-war courtship of Geneva Hackmann. They were married on January 22, 1947 in the Assumption Catholic Church in Morrison, MO.
Herb supported his family with a 29-year career at International Shoe Company, for whom he traveled the Midwest, servicing and repairing equipment. In 1969, he went to work for Zero Manufacturing in Washington, MO, where he served as a foreman in the construction of stainless steel tanks.
Upon his retirement in 1986, he turned his considerable energies and talents to his passions. As a master gardener he grew beautiful vegetables and kept an immaculate yard; he built, repaired, and restored furniture; he was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent many hours in these pursuits with his sons, daughters, and grandchildren. Above all things, Herb was a family man and friend.
He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 68 years, Geneva (Hackmann) Kuebler; three sons and two daughters: Jerry (Karen) Kuebler of St. Charles, MO; Danny (Diane) Kuebler of Columbia, MO; Connie (Mark) Hinton of Jefferson City, MO; Terry (Linda) Kuebler of Jefferson City, MO; and Nancy (Mitch) Coba of Woodinville, WA; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; his sister, Margaret Morre; his sister-in-law, Anna Mae Hackmann; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, Frank and Ella Kuebler; three brothers, Henry, Oscar, and Roy; two sisters, Linda Sieg, and Mabel Fleeman.
He was a long-time member of St. George Catholic Church in Hermann, Missouri and a member of the Hermann V.F.W. Post 4182.
Memorial donation in Herb’s name can be given to St. George Church or School.
