Loren Charles Hubner

LOREN CHARLES HUBNER was born to Herman and Emma (Mettenbrink) Hubner on December 26, 1919 in Pipestone County, Minnesota. He attended school in Pipestone and graduated high school in 1938. Loren was drafted into the United States Air Force at the age of 22. He reported to Fort Des Moines in Iowa on March 7, 1942. He was then transferred to Jefferson Barracks in Missouri for basic training. After completion of basic training, he was sent to Barksdale Field, Louisiana before heading to New York to be shipped overseas. Loren was stationed on the Aquitania, the sister ship to the Lusitania, and headed across the Atlantic Ocean. Loren was stationed on the Suez Canal for seven months, before being transferred to Sousse, Tunisia in northern Africa. The group then traveled to Sicily. Loren was diagnosed with infectious Hepatitis and was sent to Catania, Sicily for a month long stay in a hospital. He was then transferred to North Africa for a three month hospital stay. Once he was cleared, Loren rejoined his unit in Italy. Loren was deployed overseas for 36 months before he received the notice that the war had ended and the troops were to return home. Loren and the other soldiers returned on the SS Isaac Sharpless and landed in New York. He then travelled to Camp McCoy in Wisconsin, where he was honorably discharged in 1945. Loren returned to Pipestone County and enrolled in agricultural classes. He began farming with the rest of his family. On June 28, 1948, he married Lila Groth at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone. The couple made their home a quarter mile from the family farm and was blessed with three children. In 1985, Loren was given a conservation award and was featured in a newspaper article in the Pipestone Star. The article highlighted Loren’s dedication to farming and all of the hard-work that he had done for his 37 years of farming. During their time together, Loren and Lila enjoyed travelling to many places including: Germany, Sweden, Hawaii, Florida, California, and several trips to Arizona. In 2011, Loren and his granddaughter Allison were able to go on an honor flight to Washington, D.C.. Lila passed away on March 3, 2014. After her passing, Loren continued to live on the family farm until May 15, 2018 when his declining health sent him to the Pipestone County Hospice House. Loren passed away on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at the Pipestone County Hospice House in Pipestone at the age of 98 years, five months, and 19 days.

Being an outdoorsman, Loren had a great love of trees and planting them. He especially loved red cedar trees because they were hardy and the deer would not eat them. Loren loved bird watching out on the farm, playing cards, and enjoyed lemon drops. Above all, Loren loved storytelling and spending time with his beloved friends and family members.

Loren is lovingly remembered by his two children, Leonard (Jacqueline) Hubner of Pipestone and Lisa (Bruce) Hubers of Pipestone; seven grandchildren, Christopher (Emily) Hubers, Lacey (Wade) Holck, Christina (Tyler) Hughes, Allison (Troy) Mead, Amber (Jeremy) Otkin, JaLen Hubner, and Justin Hubner; seven great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Marshall, and Malachi Hubers, Audyn and Dempsey Otkin, Neveah and Isaiah Mead; one brother, Louis (Barb) Hubner of Pipestone; one sister, Leone Slyh of Pennsylvania; one brother-in-law, Gary (Linda) Groth of Pipestone; one sister-in-law, Jeannie Groth of Chandler, Arizona; nieces and nephews; and many other loving friends and family members. Loren was preceded in death by his wife, Lila Hubner; his daughter, Linda Dulaney; infant grandson, Eric Whipple; and his parents.

Memorials may be directed to the Pipestone County Hospice House.