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H. Lorenz Hardenburger was born in Mahaska, Kansas on March 14, 1925 to Harry and Ollie (Grubbs) Hardenburger and passed away on December 22, 2015 at the Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House in Albany, Oregon. He was the fourth of seven siblings; having three older brothers (Leo, Dean, Ralph), two younger sisters (Helen, Louetta), and one younger brother (Joe). The family lived in Fairbury, Nebraska until 1934 when they moved to Corvallis, Oregon. After a short time in Oregon they moved back to Nebraska, and then moved permanently to Oregon in 1937. Lorenz worked hard from boyhood, taking on many jobs, including working at a dairy in Corvallis, which enabled him to buy his first house as a young man at the age of 14. After graduating from Corvallis High School in 1943, Lorenz was drafted into the army and started his Basic Training at Camp Adair in Corvallis on September 9 of that same year. After Basic and “Course Armor Artificer” training he departed by ship for North Africa on April 2, 1944. His unit arrived in North Africa on April 20, 1944, and practiced doing amphibious assault landings at different Mediterranean locations, 17 in total. On May 24, 1944 his unit left for combat operations in Italy. Lorenz was a sergeant and assistant squad leader and served with the Combat Infantry Rifle Company, Company “F,” in the 361st division. Arriving on May 27th, the main battle that Lorenz fought in was the “Rome Arno Campaign.” On September 14, 1944, Lorenz was severely wounded in San Lorenzo, Italy. Having been hit by shrapnel from a German mortar shell while sleeping in a foxhole, he laid unconscious for 5 days in his foxhole without treatment until found by fellow American troops. It was truly a miracle that he survived the ordeal. Following hospital stays in Florence, Rome and Naples he left Italy on November 6, 1944 and arrived in Charleston, South Carolina on November 19, 1944. From Charleston he was moved to an Army hospital in Walla Walla, Washington, and after his recovery there he was discharged on May 14, 1945. He earned the Purple Heart and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with one Bronze Star. After the war, Lorenz met Beverly Cooper at the USO building in Corvallis, Oregon, and they were married on April 1, 1948. They loved each other dearly, were married for almost 51 years, and lived in nearby Philomath, Oregon. They enjoyed traveling and visited every state except Hawaii, as well as many provinces in Canada. They also took an adventure on a Chinese freighter, the Oriental Ismaralda and traveled to Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico. They spent many years living in their RV while traveling. Beverly died on February 12, 1999 and a few months after her death he moved to Stoneybrook Lodge in Corvallis. Lorenz was a member of the Philomath College United Methodist Church (previously the Evangelical United Brethren Church) for over 65 years. Lorenz is survived by his son, Brian Hardenburger and wife, Laina; and his daughter Gail Tistadt and husband, Chuck. He has four grandchildren: Andrew Tistadt and wife Patricia, Joylynn Damm and husband Brad, Heidi Courtney and husband Trevor and Jon-Marc Hardenburger and three great-grandchildren: Caitlin Courtney, Gabriel Tistadt and Kelsey Damm. He is also survived by his brother, Joe and his sister, Helen and many nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Friday, January 8th at 10:30 a.m. at McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis, Oregon, 206 NW 5th Street. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Shriners Hospital

Tributes

H. Lorenz Hardenburger

March 14, 1925 - December 22, 2015