Joseph C. ''Dutch'' Biber, 88, US Steel Retiree/Army Air Corps Veteran

He was born June 26, 1917 in Moon Run, Pennsylvania and had been a resident of the Sheffield Lake and Lorain areas.

Dutch served with the US Army Air Corps during World War II as a colonel in the 1564th Army Air Force Base Unit. He saw action in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and the Ardennes and participated in the European Air Offensive. He was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with six bronze stars and the Distinguished Unit Citation.

Dutch worked at US Steel in Lorain as a diesel engineer in the shipping department for 32 years retiring in 1969.

He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Sheffield Lake. He enjoyed gardening, flea markets, traveling and telling jokes.

He is survived by his daughters Barbara Ann Greer and Elizabeth M. Koltas, both of Lorain, sister Elizabeth Gargasz of Amherst Township, brother Paul Biber, Sr. of Sheffield Village, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Georgia Ann Biber (nee Reising), daughter Jean Cornejo, parents Joseph and Karoline (nee Bryja) Biber, sisters Mildred Royal and Helen Pochurek and brothers John Biber, Frank Biber and Mike Biber.

The family will receive friends Tuesday,August 30, 2005, from 4-8 PM at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 9:15 AM in the funeral chapel followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 521 Harris Rd., Sheffield Lake. The Rev. Stephen Shields, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Avon where Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1079 of Elyria will conduct military honors.

Memorial contirbutions can be made to the Community Health Partners/New Life Hospice Foundation, 3700 Kolbe Road, Lorain, Ohio 44053.

Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net.