Donald Lincoln Gobert

Donald Lincoln Gobert, 92, of Greencastle, passed away May 7, 2015, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

Don was born Feb. 12, 1923, in Lyons, Ind. He was the youngest child of Mel and Susie (Hutchens) Gobert and grew up in Bloomington.

Two brothers, Clarence and Harlan, passed before Don's birth. He was also preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ellen Underwood and husband Lowell (Barrington, Ill.); and Lillian Blauvelt and husband Ernie (Waterville, Ohio); three brothers, Ray and wife Berniece; Carl and wife Alice; and Wayne and wife, Anna, all of Bloomington; and his beloved granddaughter, Sarah Gobert of Jasper.

Don graduated from Bloomington High School in 1941.

He served as a United States Marine from 1942-43, including time at Guadalcanal.

He was medically discharged from the Marine Corps after contracting malaria on two occasions. Like many other members of The Greatest Generation, Don was proud of his service to our country, yet rarely shared stories of this defining time period in his life.

He married the love of his life, Rhema (Colwell), on July 2, 1950, in Martinsville. Their love story of nearly 65 years of marriage continues to warm the hearts of family, friends and caregivers.

Don was a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as a 50-plus year member of the Masonic Lodge, having originally been initiated into the lodge in Stilesville.

He enjoyed pitching horseshoes, playing cards, making and eating homemade ice cream, hunting mushrooms, sharing laughs, and traveling with Rhema. More than anything, Don simply enjoyed spending time with not only his immediate family, but also his extended family every chance he had.

He was employed at IBM in Greencastle from 1954 to 1987, where he made many lifelong friends. He also enjoyed driving cars for local dealerships after retiring from IBM.

In addition to his wife, Don is survived by his five children, Michael Gobert and wife Kathleen Bredemeyer (Ft. Wayne); Linda Gobert Dean (Bloomington); Cindy Jones and husband Kim (North Ridgeville, Ohio); Terry and wife Caroline (Jasper); and Shawn (Greencastle).

He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Dillon, Dayton, Nick, Maria, Laura, Julia, Ellen and Nathan Gobert; Casey, Courtney and Abby Dean; Vance and Carmen Cross; as well as four great-grandchildren, Liesl, Cooper, Connor and Colin Dean. Don is also survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will take place Thursday, May 14 from 3-8 p.m. at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home in Greencastle.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, May 15.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of Jasper Baseball (a 501C-3 organization). Donations will be used for enhancements at Sarah's Place -- the playground at the home field for the Jasper High School baseball team dedicated in memory of their granddaughter, Sarah. Please mail to: Sarah's Place, 1011 W. 15th St., Jasper, IN 47546. Contributions in memory of Don may also be made to the Indiana Masonic Home, 690 State St., Franklin, IN 46131.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family c/o www.BittlesandHurt.com.