Obituary of Christian F. "Chris" Dammeyer, 81

Christian F. "Chris" Dammeyer, 81, of State College, died Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Born Feb. 20, 1929, in Jersey City, N.J., he was a son of the late Frank and Amanda Christoffersen Dammeyer. After graduation from Rutgers University in 1950, he received an ROTC commission in the army and was called to active duty during the Korean War where he spent a year overseas with the 29th Infantry Regiment on Okinawa. He was wounded during the rescue of an airman after the crash of a B-29 bomber near his post. He was awarded the following service metals: National Defense, Army of Occupation and United Nations.

Chris was a manager at Prudential Insurance Co. for 34 years in Newark, N.J. He was a member of the Mount Nittany United Methodist Church of Lemont where he belonged to the Men's Club and served as an usher and greeter. He loved gardening, playing the piano, was an avid reader, enjoyed doing woodworking and various other projects for his children and grandchildren, and was an enthusiastic sports fan, especially of the N.Y. Yankees and Penn State football.

He is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 59 years, the former Lillian Rehak. He is also survived by two wonderful daughters, Catherine D. Lehman and her husband Chris, and Susan B. Wall. He was blessed with five grandchildren, Kristen Pekarchik and her husband, Tim, Carolyn Richards and her husband, Bradly, Corrine Thatcher, Kathryn Wall, and Christopher Thatcher and his wife, Rachel.

Visitation will be on Friday, August 27, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and also on Saturday, August 28, from 10-11 a.m. at Mount Nittany United Methodist Church, 1500 East Branch Road, State College. His funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Howard Woodruff officiating. Burial will be in the Boalsburg Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association , 501 Howard Ave., Bldg, D, Suite 101, Altoona, PA 16601. Arrangements by Koch Funeral Home, State College.