Frank P Birkenbuel Jr

FRANK P. (DUDE) BIRKENBUEL, JR, 92, beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away peacefully Friday, February 12, 2016 at Mesilla Valley Hospice La Posada in Las Cruces, NM. Frank was born October 14, 1923 to Frank and Ida Birkenbuel in Great Falls, Montana. He was the third oldest in a family of eight children. As an adventurous young man, Dude spent his youth growing up fishing and hunting with his dad, brothers, and best buddies in the mountains and rivers of the Sun River Valley. Being an expert marksman and excellent fisherman, Dude was often able to help his father put food on the table for the family. During the Depression, when his dad would have to find work out of town, his mother would give Dude her "egg money" to buy shells so he could hunt for game to feed the family. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he and his two older brothers enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was proud to have been one of the first 10,000 troops to be shipped overseas aboard the Queen Mary. He loved to tell his stories about THAT experience! He was stationed in the South Pacific with the 19th Bombardment Group, and even as he got older, he could describe a B-17 bomber in intricate detail, inside and out. He loved to talk about the time he spent in Australia and dreamed about going back to visit. Upon his return to the States, he was stationed at Pyote Army Air Base aka "Rattlesnake Bomber Base" in West Texas as an armaments instructor. On a weekend pass to the neighboring town of Monahans, Frank was attending a USO dance when a little brown eyed girl named Patricia Lee caught his eye and his heart. They were married in 1944 and had two daughters. It was then that he became a life long member of the Masonic Lodge in Monahans. Following the end of WWII and an honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps, he continued to serve his country for over 40 years with the Department of Defense. Frank and Pat moved their young family around several duty stations within Texas and New Mexico. During this time, many summer vacations were spent returning to his boyhood home in Montana. After retirement, Frank and Pat made their home in Ruidoso, NM and later moved to Las Cruces, NM to be closer to family members. Frank was preceded in death by his loving wife, Patricia in April 2004, and then by his granddaughter Mary Helen Silva in 2006. He was also preceded in death by three of his brothers and a sister. He is survived by his daughters Sharon Birkenbuel Wechsler (Judy) of Albuquerque, NM; daughter Donna Birkenbuel Banegas (Bobby) of Las Cruces, NM; Brother in law Robert Powell (Jeanette) of Abilene, TX; granddaughter Christina Jacquez (David Banegas,) great grandchildren Alexis Silva; Mateo, Isaiah, and Talissa Perea, all of Las Cruces; brother Richard Birkenbuel of Bothel, Washington; brother Harry Birkenbuel of Great Falls, MT; and sister Shirley Gearhart of Great Falls, MT. He is also survived by extended family members and close friends Eddie Jacquez of Las Cruces, Joe Adams of Nacogdoches, TX; Lynn and Vic Fantozzi of Albuquerque, NM; Jim and Valerie Womack of Las Cruces, and Rey and Laura Romero of Las Cruces. A memorial service with full military honors will be held at Getz Funeral Home on Monday, February 29, 2016 at 2:00PM. A celebration of Frank's life will be held immediately afterwards at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 4038. The Birkenbuel family would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to his nurse, Margie, and all the other nurses and staff at Mesilla Valley Hospice La Posada. Thank you all for taking such good care of our father these past few months. You are appreciated more than you know. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Frank's name to Mesilla Valley Hospice La Posada or any animal sanctuary of your choice.