On June 19, 2009, at the age of 85, a humble hero completed his earthly mission. Reuben William Hartje was born to Herman and Wilhelmenia Hartje on April 6, 1924. He was the second oldest of seven boys raised on a farm in La Valle. His life's journey lead him through the Great Depression and WWII. In 1943 at the age of 19, Reuben was drafted in the Army Air Corp. He was the radio operator and waist gunner on a B26 Marauder for the 586 Bomb Squadron, 394th Bomb Group of the 9th Air Force. While flying a mission over France, Reuben's plane was forced into a crash landing and he was missing for 13 days. Again on March 22,1945, while flying his 35th mission over Haltern,Germany, his plane was shot down by enemy fire. Three of the six crew survived to parachute out. Reuben was in hiding for four days before being captured by Germans just two miles from the Canadian allies. As a POW, he was taken to Stalag 11B in Falenbostel,Germany. After three days in the compound, all POWs above sergeant rank were sent on a march. They marched for 26 days. On May 2, Reuben was liberated by the British. During this time, his parents received a telegram by a uniformed officer that Reuben was missing and presumed dead. After the war, he returned to the States and at the age of 21 started his own trucking business. He continued his own business until 1963 and stayed in the trucking industry until 1987 when he retired. He and his wife,Pauline, enjoyed spending time with their large family and traveled throughout the country in their RV making many friends on the way. Reuben was a true hero in every sense of the word to his family. Everyone who knew him was blessed by his good sense of humor, calm demeanor and strong values. He was a man of honor and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife,Pauline (nee Smith). His children Ray (Julie) of Beloit, Don (Jolene) of Green Valley, Ariz.,Gary (Gail) of Beloit, Bob (Virginia) of Racine, Richard (Jenise) of Grand Junction, Colo., Terry (Natalie) of Lodi, Jean (Glenn Hoslett) of Waukesha, Thom (Diane) of San Diego, Calif. and Holly (Rick) Clanton of Menomonee Falls; brothers Bill and Virgil (Edith) both of LaValle and Ken (Iris) of Doniphan,Mo. He is further survived by 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Committal Service with Full Military Honors will be held on Friday July 17 at 11 a.m. at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is appreciated to allow other WWII Veterans to see their Memorial in Washington D.C. The family would like to thank the VA Medical Center for its many years of excellent care it provided him in good health and bad.

The Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home is assisting the family.