Elmer Blubaugh

Elmer D. Blubaugh, age 90, of Rensselaer, passed away late Thursday evening, June 19, 2008 at the Indiana Veteran's Home in West Lafayette. Born in Clay County Indiana September 27, 1917, he lived in Brazil, IN until 1933. He lived in Tacoma, Washington prior to induction into the Army in 1942. After serving in WW II he lived in Bowling Green, IN from 1946 until 1992. In 1992 he moved to Rensselaer, IN. As a veteran of WW II he served in Company H of the 505th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Paratrooper Division of the U.S. Army. His parachute wings were adorned with four diamonds for combat jumps in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, and Holland. He also saw combat in the Belgium Bulge. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star medal of valor. His wife of nearly 60 years, Maureen (Elliott) Blubaugh, preceded him in death January 28, 2003. For more than 50 years he had been a member of the United Mine Workers of America. He had worked in numerous coal mines in the Brazil, Terre Haute and Sullivan areas. In the 1960s & 70s he was well known in Bowling Green for raising poultry and Berkshire swine. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Brazil and of St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Rensselaer. Per his request his body is being cremated and there are no scheduled services. Interment of ashes will be in Summit Lawn Cemetery in Brazil, IN. He will be sadly missed by family and friends.