CUERO - Heinie Bade, 91, of Cuero, died Oct. 18, 2009. He was born Oct. 22, 1917 to Henry and Amanda Krueger Bade. He married Frieda Sager on Oct. 13, 1940. Heinie was an active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday school for many years and served on numerous boards and committees. He also attended two
national Lutheran Church conventions as a voting delegate and served on many synodical boards and committees. He served on the Board of Regents of Texas Lutheran University and on the University Development Board. Heinie felt his calling was to use his knowledge and expertise to help his fellow farmers, ranchers, and dairymen. He served 55 years as a board member of the DeWitt County Producers Association serving as chairman 31 of those years. He was a director for the DeWitt County Soil and Water Conservation District for 46 years. He helped organize and served as a chairman of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association. He also was an active member of the Associated Milk Producers Incorporated. He was a member of the State Legislative Committee of 100 and chairman of DeGoLa, a seven county resource conservation and development district. He served on the Texas Farm Credit Board. He also was involved in community work. He was a director of the Cuero Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture and the Cuero Community Hospital Board. He was a member of the Cuero Lions Club and the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission. He was elected to the board for the Cuero Independent School District for 16 years, serving as chairman for a number of those years. His desire to serve led him to enlist in the U.S. Navy in 1945.
That same desire to serve was acknowledged by numerous organizations as they honored Heinie with a variety of service awards over the years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Berner.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Frieda; sons, Lawrence, Norman (Claudia), David (Linda), and John (Robin); daughters, Margaret (Roger) Drushel, Lois (Butch) Tolbert, and Bernice (Bob) Huie; grandchildren, Matthew Bade, Emily Duron, Deanna
Michalewicz, Patricia Morehead, Nicholas Bade, Richard Bade, Mary Bade, Rochelle Gillum, Sheri Bordelon, Corey Tolbert, Neal Tolbert, Kristen Huie, Megan Huie, and Michael Bade; 19 greatgrandchildren; and his sister, Remilda Schultz.

Pallbearers are his grandsons.

Visitation will be today, Oct. 20, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Freund Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Cuero. Interment will immediately follow at Zion Cemetery in Arneckeville.

Memorial contributions may be made to ECLA World Hunger Appeal, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, or donor's choice.

Freund Funeral Home, Cuero, 361-275-2343.