SYCAMORE – E. Dale Hindenburg, 89, a lifelong resident of Sycamore, Ill., died Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at his home.
Born May 28, 1924, in Sycamore, the son of William W. Hindenburg and Cecile (Hiscox) Hindenburg, Dale was a 1942 graduate of Sycamore High School.
In his senior year he was tested and accepted for enrollment in the Army Specialized Training Program. He received his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. After completion, he was enrolled at the University of Wisconsin for accelerated courses in engineering. After one year of classes, the ASTP program was discontinued and he was transferred to the 96th Infantry Division where he received advanced infantry and amphibious warfare training.
He participated in the assault landings on the islands of Leyte in the Philippines and Okinawa, a prefecture of Japan. He was a combat rifleman, advancing from private first class to sergeant in command of a rifle squad. On June 20, 1945, Dale was wounded and eventually returned to the United States for rehabilitation and discharge.
During his service he received many awards, including: Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf and Valor Devices, Purple Heart Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars and Bronze Arrowhead, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Badge with Rifle and Machine Gun Bars, Sharpshooter Badge with Carbine Bar, United States Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge and two Overseas Bars.
After discharge from the Army, Dale returned home and was hired by Ideal Industries Inc., as a junior draftsman. He worked for Ideal for 15 years advancing to the position of chief draftsman. He then worked for the Wurlitzer Co. for four years as chief draftsman and then at Holub Industries for 20 years, advancing from design draftsman to engineering manager. During his employment he was the recipient of 10 patents in the field of electrician tools.
Dale was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5766 and the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1506.
He had a lifelong interest in building and flying model airplanes and was a leader member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. He was a founding member of the Sycamore Prop Busters, the DeKalb Cloud Dusters and the Kishwaukee R/C Flyers. He was an avid reader of science fiction and in later years took up the challenge of learning to use the computer. He enjoyed ballroom dancing.
Dale married Nancy A. Hiatt on Oct. 31,1947. Born to this union were three children, Rebecca, William and Charles.
Dale married Marilyn J. (Naese) Davis on June 23, 1960. Two children were born to this union, Laura and Brian, joining his stepson Rodney L. Davis.
Dale and Marilyn also were foster parents to approximately 40 children over the years.
Dale is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Sycamore: two sons, William B. Hindenburg of DeKalb and Brian D. (Beth) Hindenburg of Sycamore: two daughters, Rebecca A. Atkinson of DeKalb and Laura C. (James) Albright of Vancouver, Wash.: four grandchildren, William, Andrew, and Shawn Hindenburg and Zachary Albright. two great-grandchildren, Isaac and Lily Hindenburg; and one sister, Doris M. Pernot of Sycamore.
His parents; son, Charles; and stepson, Rodney, preceded him in death.
Private services will be at a later date.
Memorials can be made to the KishHealth Systems Hospice in care of Butala Funeral Home and Crematory, 1405 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL. 60178.
To share a memory or sign the online guest book, visit www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com.
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Published in Daily Chronicle on Mar. 8, 2014
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