Herman O. Ballert Jr.

Herman Otto Karl Heimbert Ballert was born October 2, 1923 to the late Minna and Herman O. Ballert Sr. in Lonvitz, Insel Rugen, Germany. When he was four years old his family immigrated to the US via Brazil, living first in Maumee, OH and then settling in San Francisco. Herman attended St. Paulus Lutheran School and was also a graduate of SRJC. During World War II he served with the Air Corps in the South Pacific and Hawaii. He married the late Mildred Strobel in 1950. They met as neighbors on East Bonness Road in Sonoma. Herman worked as a carpenter for many years for John Moll Construction, and taught in the Carpenter Apprenticeship Program in Petaluma. He was a Building Inspector for the cities of Sonoma and Petaluma, and Chief Building Inspector for Marin County until his retirement in 1982. He also retired from the military, having served in the Army Reserve and National Guard. During his retirement he enjoyed bowling and playing golf. He was a member of Living Word Lutheran Church for over 35 years. Herman passed away at the home he built in Sonoma on Wednesday October 27, 2010 surrounded by his family after a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mildred, his daughter Kathryn, and his sister Ruth Martin. He is survived by his daughters Joanne (Jeffrey) George, Glover, VT and Susan (Bruce) McClellan of Cloverdale, CA; and grandchildren: Michelle (Ian) Heran, Sonoma, CA; Evan Ballert-Dalrymple, Salem, OR; Christine and Margaret George, Glover, VT; Megan McClellan, Oakland, CA and Kelly McClellan, Cotati, CA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday November 6th at 11:00 a.m. at Living Word Lutheran Church, 901 Ely Blvd South, Petaluma. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice By The Bay or Living Word Lutheran Church. DUGGAN'S MISSION CHAPEL SONOMA