CUERO - Herbert Finley Frels, 87, of Cuero, passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2009. He was born Jan. 24, 1922 in Concrete to the late Charles and Emilie Storch Frels. Herbert was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was also a true patriot who loved and served his country.
After graduating from Cuero High School in 1940, Herbert felt a special calling to serve his country. His youth had been filled with dreams of someday being a pilot, so he enlisted in the Army-Air Corps in 1941. After completing basic and advanced flight training school, he was given a brand new B-24 called "The Flak Man" to pilot. He flew this plane from the States to an airfield in Venosa, Italy where he was stationed with the 831st Bomb Squadron of the 485th Bomb Group. Here his shiny new plane was given to a veteran crew while Herbert and his crew were given an older B-24 called "The Gawga Peach." It was on mission number 25 for the 485th after a bombing run over Munich on June 13, 1944 that Herbert and his crew were shot down. To be sure his crew could safely bail out of the plane Herbert stayed at the controls of the B-24 and crash landed. Being presumed dead, he spent the remainder of the war in a POW camp in Barth, Germany. For his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, the European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Air Medal with two Bronze stars, and the very prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross.
After returning from the war, Herbert married the former Helen Buehrig on May 17, 1947. After attending college, he worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Cuero before becoming a successful businessman as a distributor for Exxon for over 20 years. During his years in Cuero, he dedicated his life to serving his community. He was instrumental in establishing a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Cuero, serving as its first commander. He later served as a district commander for the VFW. He was also a member of the Cuero American Legion post, a 50-year member of the Cuero Masonic Lodge, and a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Cuero. He served on the Cuero ISD Board, including several years as president, and the DeWitt County Appraisal Board, where he also served several years as chairman. In 1999, he received the Cuero ISD Distinguished Service Award for his dedication to the school district. Then in 2004-2005 he was honored as a Cuero ISD distinguished alumnus.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Helen; his daughter, Lori and husband Scott Henry of Austin; son, Finley Frels and wife Susan of Cuero; son, Dr. John Frels and wife Kathy of Yorktown; grandchildren, Kyle, Kreg and Kace Frels-Henry of Austin, Kim Mosier of Kingsbury, Kristy Brewer of Dallas, and Leslie Frels of Houston; and great-grandchildren Kelton Mosier of Kingsbury and Justus Brewer of Dallas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters, Ida Frels and Frieda Molina.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2009 at Freund Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ryan Ritzmann officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Hillside Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Fred Chovantez, James Chovantez, Michael Chovantez, Charles Chovantez, Scott Henry, Kyle Frels-Henry, Kreg Frels-Henry, Chris Crain, and Steve Barnes.

Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Cuero VFW members, and Chester Cram, the last surviving member of his flight crew.

The family requests your presence for a time of fellowship at St. Mark's Lutheran Fellowship Hall immediately following interment.

The family wishes to extend its sincerest appreciation to Doctors Dan Dugi, William Shay, W. Dennis Tobin, Dakshesh Parikh, Mehran Nezhad, John White, the staff of Citizens Medical Center and Bohman Clinic, and all his caregivers.

In loving memory of Herbert F. Frels, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Cuero VFW, or donor's choice.

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