George H. Lenke Jr., 88, died April 25, 2013, in Sarasota, Fla. He was born June 8, 1924, in Cicero, Ill., to George H. Sr. and Gertrude Krefft Lenke. On Sept. 20, 1947, he married Patricia J. Cooley, who survives. He grew up in the Elmhurst, Ill., area. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, earned his commission and wings as a second lieutenant in 1944 and became a flight instructor (when he didn’t even have a driver’s license yet). He served as a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber pilot in the European Theatre in World War II and as a member of the 350th Squadron, 100th Bomb Group. He flew both combat and humanitarian (Chowhound) missions. Years later, he co-incidentally met persons who had lived in the Netherlands, faced starvation and who were grateful recipients of the parcels of food and supplies dropped on these Chowhound missions. Following the war, he obtained the rank of major while serving in the Air Force Reserve in Illinois and Indiana until the late 1970s. In 1951 he graduated from the University of Tulsa with a degree in petroleum engineering and worked for Dowell Chemical Co., Texas. In 1953 he joined his father-in-law, Chester Cooley, as an engineer at Da-Lite Screen Co., Warsaw. He assumed the presidency in 1963 and continued with Da-Lite until his retirement in 1984. During this time, he and his wife traveled extensively throughout the world and made numerous life-long friends associated with Da-Lite. He was a faithful Christian and for more than 50 years was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Warsaw, and later a member of Concordia Lutheran Church, Sarasota, Fla. He was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International, a member of Tippecanoe Country Club, instrumental in the establishment of Kosciusko Community Hospital and served as chairman of the board of the First National Bank, Warsaw, and a director of the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce. He was a life-long Chicago Bears and Cubs fan. He loved telling jokes, enjoyed many green-thumb summers gardening at his home on Lake Tippecanoe and was an avid golfer, bowler and fisherman. Respected by his business associates, community, family and friends, he was the epitome of a gentleman and will be profoundly missed. Also surviving are three daughters: Barbara Gmitter, Lakewood Ranch, Fla.; Sandra (and spouse Don) Brickel, Franklin, Tenn.; and Nancy (and spouse Norman) Johnson, Pittsburgh, Pa.; six grandchildren: Kameron (and spouse Sean) McConnell, Wilmington, Del.; Shannon (and spouse Patrick) Hawkins, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Adam and Samantha Brickel, both of Franklin; and Holly and Erica Johnson, both of Pittsburgh; and two great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Brickel and Christian Hawkins, both of Murfreesboro. He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert, and a sister, Jean. A Celebration of Life will be 10 a.m. June 29 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Warsaw. Calling is from 4 to 7 p.m. June 28 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw, with military honors by members of Warsaw American Legion Post 49 and Warsaw Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1126. ***** Memorials may be sent to the Warsaw Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1473, Warsaw, IN 46581-1473, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
