Obituary index

Julian 'Dunie' Menzel

[August 30, 2010]  LINCOLN -- Julian "Dunie" Menzel, 91, of Lincoln, died Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, at Vonderlieth Living Center, Mount Pulaski, where he had been a resident for several days.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln, with the Rev. Richard Reinwald officiating.

Burial will be in Elkhart Cemetery, Elkhart, with military rites by American Legion Post 263.

Mr. Menzel had worked as a plumber and steamfitter in the construction of schools, hospitals and public buildings throughout the Midwest.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Forces.

He was born March 25, 1919, in Eminence Township. His parents were Caroline Jaggi Menzel and Julius Menzel. He married Elsie Komnick on Nov. 9, 1947, at St. John the Baptist Chapel in Elkhart.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years and nephews Harry E. Menzel of Kankakee, David Menzel of Springfield, Michael Menzel of Williamsville and Scott Menzel of Louisville, Ky. He was also the beloved uncle of Lee Komnick of Lincoln, Richard Smith and Kathy Frontiero, both of Dunedin, Fla., David Smith of Clearwater, Fla., and Barbara Smith of Chattanooga, Tenn. Special to him was a friend, Lori Reinwald of Colorado Springs, Colo. He enjoyed the antics and accomplishments of his seven great-nieces and nephews, Mike, Will, Kelly, Michele, Mandi, Josh and Ryne, as well as five great-great-nieces and nephews, Audrey, Abby, Adam, Karson and Kane.

A brother, Harry W. Menzel, and a sister, Maxine K. Menzel, preceded him in death.

He was a member of St. John United Church of Christ, American Legion Post 263 and a 50-year member of union Local 137.

For a number of years he was active in serving "meals on wheels," and he particularly enjoyed woodworking, fishing and model planes.

He was educated in the Lincoln public schools and graduated from Lincoln Community High School in 1938.

He was inducted into the Army in 1942 and later transferred to the Army Air Forces. He served 35 missions as a bomber pilot in World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater with the Flying Tigers unit, 11th Bomb Squadron, 14th Air Force. He received the Air Medal.

Memorials may be given to St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln or to Smile Train at 41 Madison Ave., 28th Floor, New York, NY 10010.

Click here to send a note of condolence to the Menzel family.