Mr. John Gordon Frantzreb

John Gordon Frantzreb, 92, of East Peoria, IL died December 10, 2008. He was born March 23, 1916 in Morocco, Newton County, Indiana. Memorial services will be held at 11:30 pm on Monday, December 15, 2008 in Crown Hill Funeral Home with calling from 10:30 am. to 11:30 am. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN.

Mr. Frantzreb attended Purdue University and the Army Ordnance School at Aberdeen, Maryland; a veteran of World War II participating in the Normandy landing, liberation of France, Belgium, Holland and in the occupation of Germany.

He began his industrial career as a chemist at J. D. Adams of Indianapolis, and later employed as a Metallurgical Engineer by Caterpillar Tractor Co in Peoria, IL for 27 years retiring in 1981. Mr. Frantzreb was granted seventeen patents in the field of metallurgy. Mr. Frantzreb also taught metallurgy classes for the Metals Engineering Institute at Bradley University.

Mr. Frantzreb was recipient of the American Welding Society Meritorious Service Award, member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, American Society for Metals, and American Society for Testing Materials. Mr. Frantzreb served on the Genealogical Society. Mr. Frantzreb authored "Our Germanic Ancestors" and published his Memoirs.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church; he is a member of the American Association for Retired People having served as State Representative for Boards and Commissions and is past president of the Allisonville Chapter of AARP.

Mr. Frantzreb was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Martha Heaton Frantzreb, two sons, David W. Frantzreb and Mark A. Frantzreb. Surviving Mr. Frantzreb are daughters LaVinia E. Bailey and Alesa K. (Terry) Crecilius of Indianapolis, Karen L. Miller of East Peoria, IL, and one son, J. Gordon Frantzreb of Chicago, IL, 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: The Lord's Pantry, 303 N. Elder, Indianapolis, IN 46222 or AIDS Healthcare Foundation, 6255 W. Sunset, 21st Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90028.