Manfred Erich Gemballa

Manfred was born in Dorren, East Prussia, to Martha Bombosch and Gustav Gemballa, as the fourth of five children. At age 8, he fled East Prussia and settled in Elmshorn, near Hamburg. From a young age, he was fascinated by trains, which led him to pursue an apprenticeship as a machinist. In 1960, he met Margret Runge, and they welcomed their first child, Kersten, in 1961. Following his work commitments, Manfred moved his family to Chula Vista, California, to establish his career as an aerospace engineer at Rohr Industries. His professional journey eventually brought him to Bonita, California, where he settled and found stability. In 1970, Manfred and Margret had their second child, Christina. He dedicated his life to family, engaging in woodworking and metalworking projects for loved ones, often ending days with family gatherings and having an after-dinner Verteiler. After retiring, Manfred and Margret returned partially to Germany, where they built a house and lived half of the time for 15 years near their family. Manfred served as a mentor and grandfather to Klaudia, Darcy, Shelby, and Erich, and became a great-grandfather to Lily Margret. Known simply as Manfred to most, and Opa to a few, he left a lasting legacy of family, craftsmanship, and dedication.