David Henry Herleth

Herleth, David Henry 85, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Sunday (April 3, 2011) at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville. He was fortified with the Sacraments of the Holy Mother Church. Born September 30, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, he was the son of beloved Alverna Rose (Johnson) and Henry Isadore Herleth. On November 22, 1951 in St. Louis, Missouri, David was united in marriage to Dolores Brockling. David is survived by his wife, Dolores of fifty-nine years; his six children, Robert (Joyce Savio) Herleth, Doug (Sandy Hickey) Herleth, Bill (Teresa Herleth, Skip Herleth, Sally (Eric Schmitz) Detweiler and Mike Herleth; his grandchildren, Dan (Celeste) Herleth, Anne Herleth, Lucy Herleth, Shawna (Brian) King, Cash Browning, Toni Browning, Mason Herleth and Alex Herleth, as well as several step-grand- children. He was preceded in death by his parents. David attended Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis until he enlisted in the Marines in 1943. Sergeant Major Herleth saw combat action with the 2nd Marine Division during World Ward II, at the Pacific battles of Saipan, Tinan and Okinawa, and participated in the occupation of Nagasaki, Japan. Marine Herleth again saw combat-action with the 1st Marine Division in the Korean War in 1950-1951. Marine Herleth continued active in the Marine Corps Reserve Program and was Sergeant Major of 3/24 4th Marine Division at NMCRTC Lambert Field. He retired as Sergeant Major, 7th Staff Group, in 1977. Services: Public visitation will be held Wednesday (April 6, 2011) after 4 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville. A Christian Wake service will be held at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday (April 7, 2011) at 10 a.m. at the Catholic Newman Center (709 S. Davis) in Kirksville, with Father Chris Cordes presiding. Following Mass, David will be cremated and he will be interred with full Military Honors at the (Missouri State Veterans Cemetery) in Jacksonville, Missouri, at a later date. Expressions of sympathy in memory of David Herleth may be made to Mary Immaculate Catholic Church. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.