DOWNEY - Donald A. Hammerle, a World War II veteran who served under General George S. Patton in the 695th Armored Field Artillery and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, died March 14 of congestive heart failure.He was born Feb. 26, 1926 in Minneapolis to Peter and Willa Hammerle and raised in Marshfield, Wis. He enlisted in the Army at age 18 after graduating high school. After being discharged in 1944, he went to work for the Roddis Lumber Company in Marshfield, staying on when it became Weyerhaeuser Company and moved to California. Donald married Mary Murray in 1967. Along with her five children, the family moved to Downey where Donald remained the rest of his life. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary Hammerle; stepchildren Donald, MaryBeth, Michael and Patrick; and niece Sandy Schumacher. He was preceded in death by stepson Dan Murray. Services will be held Friday, March 22, at 3 p.m. at Miller Mies Mortuary.

********** Published: March 21, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 49