Al "Hoot" Eberle

Al “Hoot” Eberle, 93, of Saint Marys, died 12:25 P.M. Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital.

He was born May 18, 1931, in Saint Marys, the son of Charles and Sylvia (Grunden) Eberle.

He married Arlene Helmsing on May 9, 1953, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Minster, and she preceded him in death on October 18, 2019.

He is survived by his children: Kate (Brad DuBois) Ellis of Saint Marys; Peg (Randy) Speckman of Saint Marys; Tim (Chae) Eberle of Powell, Ohio; Mike (Andrea) Eberle of Saint Marys; Amy (Steve) Dues of New Bremen; Mary (Vince) Craft of Saint Marys. He is survived by his grandchildren: Andrew (Nicolette) Ellis; Emily Ellis; Amy (Ryan) Zimmerman; Teresa (Jeremy Durst) Koch; Sarah (Jeremy Sturwold) Speckman; Michael (Hannah Yu) Eberle; Jenna (Logan Newbauer) Eberle; Charlie (Allison) Eberle; Rachel (Tim Williams) Dues; Mark (Christa) Dues; Amanda (Jared) Deubler; Nick Dues; Jon (Kayla) Craft; Abbey (Adam) Masonbrink; Melanie (Tony) Schnippel Allison (Kevin Lynch) DuBois; Kate DuBois; Jim (Jessica) DuBois; by 20 great-grandchildren plus one on the way; and one great-great-grandchild. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Arlene; by his siblings Frank Eberle who was killed in action during WWII; Mary Poppe; Vivian (Al) Glass; Pat (Joe) Burden; by his sister-in-law, Joan Dieringer; by his great-granddaughter, Leah Newbauer; by his son-in-law, Tom Ellis.

Al was a 1949 graduate of Saint Marys Memorial High School, and a veteran of the US Navy, having served aboard the USS Valley Forge. He graduated from the London Police Academy. Al retired as a  Sergeant at  the Saint Marys Police Department, where he served for 30 years. He then taught Driver’s Education at the Davis School of Driving for many years.

Hoot loved hunting and fishing. He always said that “ he could catch a fish off the kitchen table if he sat there long enough!”.He started playing poker at the age of 12 and had a group of friends he played with each week. His family would like to thank his poker buddies for all the rides and special assistance.  He enjoyed reading history and poetry. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. He and Arlene enjoyed 66 years of marriage.

Funeral rites will be held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, Father Prashanth Bandadadham, officiant. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, where veterans’ burial rites will be presented by American Legion Post 323 and VFW Post 9289. 

Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home, where memorial donations may be given to St. Jude’s Childrens’ Hospital. 

Memories and condolences may be shared with Hoot’s family via Millerfuneralhomes.net