Robert H. ‘Bob’ Grimminger, 90, of Clearfield died Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 at his home.
He was born April 12, 1924 in Lewistown, a son of the late Charles Grimminger and Vera (Haines) Grimminger Wagner.
Mr. Grimminger owned and operated Bob’s Army and Navy, Clearfield, since 1948.
He was a life member of the Clearfield Third Ward Fire Co. and a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Clearfield.
He was also a member of the Clearfield Veterans of Foreign Wars F. Michael Sicks Post No. 1785, Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post No. 6, the Clearfield Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge No. 540, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Rifle Association, the Mosquito Creek Sportsmen’s Association and the Goshen Township Sportsmen’s Association.
He also belonged to the Rescue Hose & Ladder Co., Curwensville, the Old Town Sportsmen’s Association, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Clearfield Lodge No. 314 Free & Accepted Masons, the Jaffa Shriners, Altoona and the Lodge Council Chapter Consistory Valley of Altoona.
He served in the U.S. Army with the 11th Airborne Division during World War II and assigned to New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon, Okinowa and Japan. Since the 11th Airborne Division was air mobile and capable of moving out within a six-hour time frame, they were selected to be the first troops into Japan for occupation.
Mr. Grimminger received the following awards and decorations during World War II: Purple Heart Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, Philippines Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars and one bronze arrowhead, Presidential Unit Citation, Ruptured Duck Lapel Pin, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge and Parachutist Qualification Badge.
After World War II, he joined the reserves as an enlisted member. Later he received a commission and served through the ranks until retiring as a Colonel with 38 years of service.
He is survived by his wife, Emily M. (Brinton) Grimminger, whom he wed April 18, 1948 in Winchester, Va.; two children, Robert Grimminger and his wife, Sherry and Patti Semelsberger and her husband, Jim, all of Clearfield; a son-in-law, Eugene Berfield of Homer City; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father, Howard Wagner; a daughter, Elizabeth Berfield; a brother, Charles Grimminger; an infant half-sister, Margaret Wagner; and a half-brother, Samuel Wagner.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the St. John Lutheran Church, Clearfield, with the Rev. Robert J. Way officiating. Burial will follow in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde.
Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the members of the Clearfield VFW and American Legion Posts Honor Guard.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
The Masonic memorial service will be at 5:30 p.m. and the Elks memorial service will be at 5:45 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to St. John Lutheran Church, 217 E. Pine St., Clearfield, the American Heart Association 501 Howard Ave., Suite D., Altoona, PA 16601 or the American Cancer Society, 26 S. Second St., Clearfield.
To sign the online guestbook, go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.