Earl W. Stienecker, 89, of 116 North Buckeye Street, Saint Marys, died 5:17 P.M. Monday, September 14, 2009, at Adams County Hospital in Decatur, Indiana.

He was born November 24, 1919, in Auglaize County, Ohio, the son of Fred and Pearl (Humpries) Stienecker.

He married Dolores Knatz on October 12, 1946 and she preceded him in death on December 31, 2006.

He is survived by his two sons: Steve (Georgeann) Stienecker of New Knoxville; Dennis (Deborah) Stienecker of Saint Marys; by five grandchildren: Julie (Keith) Jacobs of Saint Marys; Adam (Karen) Stienecker of Lima; Kelli (Steve) Tebbe of Saint Marys; Anna Good of New Knoxville; Jason Stienecker of New Knoxville; by eight great-grandchildren: Grace and William Tebbe; Taylor Good; Noah and Elias Stienecker; Ella, Lauren and Jillian Jacobs; by a brother-in-law, Bill Doseck of Saint Marys; brother-in-law Robert Knatz; brother and sister-in-law, Harold (Jean) Knatz of New Knoxville; Carol Knatz of Saint Marys; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death in death by his parents, wife, sister Marjorie Doseck.

Earl was a 1937 graduate of Saint Marys Memorial High School.

He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served during WWII in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre near New Caledonia, New Zealand.

He retired after 40 years of service at the Midwest Electric Cooperative, where he was General Manager.

He was an active member of the Saint Marys Rotary Club, where he had served as club president; former board member and Director of the Saint Marys Chamber of Commerce; had been organizer and advisor to the Fuse Busters 4-H Club; a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Saint Marys, where he had served on the church vestry and was a former Sunday School Superintendent. He was the past treasurer of the Auglaize-Mercer Visitors and Convention Bureau; had served on the Auglaize Industries board; was an avid woodworker and had assisted in the construction of the Memorial Park Covered Bridge in Saint Marys; he was very involved in our community and county.

Funeral rites will be held 10 30 A.M. Saturday, September 19, 2009, at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, the Reverend Bill Maki, officiant. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens near Moulton.

Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Friday at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, where memorial donations may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church.