Bob Stemle to be honored at annual Memorial Day observance
The annual observance of Memorial Day by the Dubois County Veterans Council will be Saturday, May 28, beginning at 10 a.m. on the west side of the Dubois County Courthouse in Jasper at the Veteran’s Memorial and Fountain.
All veterans organizations of Dubois County will be represented and all veterans who passed away in the past year will be remembered.
This year’s deceased veteran to be honored is Robert “Bob” Stemle. Robert Stemle was born on February 23, 1929 to Leopold and Kathy (Otto) Stemle.
Robert Stemle was inducted into the Army on May 25, 1951, beginning his basic training and AIT at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, then assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington in December of 1951. On January 15, 1952, he was assigned to B Company 15th, Infantry Regt., Third Infantry Division and was sent to the Korean Front.
Testimony from Squad Leader Peter Zofchak from Company B tells of the time they were on an outpost three miles from the main line and were hit by the enemy. The hill was overrun, and as they pulled back Stemle and two other men of the team were cut off by the Chinese. The fire team’s only chance was to get back to the main line.
As they left their bunker and tried to reach friendly lines all three were wounded from small arm fire. The men were able to get to the bottom of the hill and after nightfall Bob crawled and reached the main line at about 2100 hours. Bob called out for help but the Company Commander thought it was a trick. After being convinced by a fellow soldier who knew Bob’s voice that it was indeed Bob, a team was sent out to bring Bob to safety; Bob was then able to direct another team to his comrades’ location and bring them to safety as well.
Before being evacuated Bob suffered from frozen feet; he was treated on the hospital ship Jutlandia for over two months before being shipped to Japan and then to the United States where he was discharged from the Army at Indianapolis in February 1953.
Robert’s military awards are the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal with two battle stars.
Upon returning home he married Rosemary Mikki Hauser on November 27, 1954. Bob is survived by his wife Mikki, and three children, Zeph, Jayme and Bart, along with 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Robert “Bob” Stemle was foreman at the Jasper Corporation for many years and later retired from the Greater Jasper School Corporation, where he worked for 26 years as a maintenance engineer.
He coached Little League baseball for 14 years, was a life member of VFW Post 673 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 77, serving as Chaplain for 17 years. He was also a member of the Order of the Purple Heart and Saint Joseph Catholic Church.
Bob was active at the Older Americans Center and a member of the Senior Singers.
He passed away on July 20, 2015.
Guest speaker for this year’s observance will be Jasper’s Staff Sergeant Eric Vonderheide, Company Human Resource Manager with the Indiana National Guard Station at the Jasper National Guard Armory.
Sergeant Vonderheide is married to the former Carrie Wiseman and has four children, Jasmine, Tyler, Darsey and Anderson. Sergeant Vonderheide has completed two tours of duty in the Iraq Campaign. His citations include the Army Commendation Medal(3), Iraq Campaign Medal(2), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal along with many other citations and awards.
Sergeant Vonderheide is a graduate of Jasper High School and is attending on-line college with the University of Phoenix. Sergeant Vonderheide is a life member of the VFW, DAV and the National Guard Association of Indiana, a three-year member of the Quartermasters Association and a 12-year-member of the Haysville Fire Department.
Mark Jackson, President of the DCVC and life member of VFW Post 2366, will be the master of ceremonies. Pastor Darrel Land of the Christian Church of Jasper will be the presiding chaplain.
The National Anthem and other patriotic songs will be sung by Bernie Jeffries and the Recycled Teenagers. Steve Bartels from the American Legion Riders will conduct the POW/ MIA Ceremony. Dick Singer and Dan Hollinden from Navy Club Ship No. 90 will conduct a ritual remembering Sailors.
Taps will be played by Mark Messmer of Jasper after the 21-Gun Salute honoring all deceased veterans. The Singing Singers from the Older Americans Center will offer a special tribute to Bob Stemle.
The Jasper Park and Recreation Department will provide temporary bleachers for this event but guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
The Monsignor Wernsing K of C, 4th Degree Assembly 0251 and Boy Scout Troop 185 will be serving bottled water during this event.
American Legion Post 147, 1220 Newton Street, Jasper will host a reception for the family and friends of Bob Stemle along with those participating in this event. In the event of inclement weather all events will be held at American Legion Post 147, 1220 Newton Street, Jasper. For information, call Mark Jackson, President of the DCVC, 812-630-7806
