Charles R. "Dick" Grabner, 85 years old of Roanoke, Indiana, passed away at 8:50 a.m. on Friday, August 21, 2009 in the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dick was a former Maples, Indiana resident for 55 years. Dick was born on Friday, November 30, 1923 in Monroeville, Indiana the son of the late Grover C. Grabner and the late Leona (Leonard) Grabner. He married Audrey M. Frederick on March 6, 1947 in Maples, Indiana and she survives. Dick was a member of the V.F.W. #10205; Post 420 American Legion; and Legion Color Guard in Monroeville, Indiana. Dick was a graduate of Monroeville High School Class of 1941. He enjoyed golfing, woodworking, gardening, playing cards and his grandkids. Dick served his country during WW II in the U.S. Marine Corps where he was a corporal in the 1 Battery, 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He served in the defense of New Zealand during the Guadacanal Campaign; participated in the campaigns at Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. Following the Japanese surrender and after the 2nd atomic bomb was dropped, he performed occupation duty in Nagasaki, Japan until discharge in late 1945. Dick was forever dedicated to the United States of America and the United States Marine Corps....Semper Fi. Dick was as salesman for Sears-Roebuck in Ft. Wayne, Indiana for 40 years retiring in 1984. Following his retirement, he worked at the Brookwood Golf Course as a groundskeeper from 1984-2009. Surviving are his wife, Audrey M. Grabner of Roanoke, Indiana; daughter, Lois A. (Stephen) Gehres of Van Wert, Ohio; daughter, Joys S. (Mike) Lasley of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; son, David F. (Cindy) Grabner of Roanoke, Indiana; brother, Donald D. (Kayte) Grabner of Monroeville, Indiana; brother, Dale K. Grabner of Monroeville, Indiana; brother, Lindy L. (Imogene) Grabner of Monroeville, Indiana; brother, Loren R. (Colleen) Grabner of Monroeville, Indiana; sister, Audrey V. Swanson of Duluth, Minnesota; sister, Eileen E. Sloan of Monroeville, Indiana; sister, Sharon Sue (Richard) Darras of Monroeville, Indiana; eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Preceding Charles in death was one brother, Arnold Grabner. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2009 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel, Monroeville, Indiana with Rev. Kathleen Miller officiating. Interment will follow in the Monroeville Memorial Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 25, 2009 in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel, Monroeville, Indiana. Preferred memorials are to Riley Children's Hospital or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home.
