Vaughn Leroy Poertner
Senior Master Sergeant, U. S. Force
Vietnam, Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom

Vaughn Leroy Poertner was born on 17 July 1945, in St. Louis, MO, the son of Ralph Leroy Poertner and Helen (Schlemper) Musenbrock.

On 2 December 1982, Vaughn married Rebecca (Combs) Wilkins in Osage Beach, MO. They met while he was news director of KLOZ Radio, where Becky worked.

Military Service

Vaughn served in the U.S. Air Force and he was a veteran of the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received several medals and awards, including two Purple Hearts.

He retired from the Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant.

Post-Military Life

He loved reading and working on cars. He was a Hazardous Material Specialist for the Department of Public Safety. He was a former editor of the Reveille Newspaper and a member of the Eldon United Methodist Church.

Death and Burial

Vaughn Leroy Poertner died from the complications of lung cancer on Thursday, 16 December 2004, at Marlton, NJ. He was 59. He is buried at Sunset Cemetery in Pacific, Franklin County, MO.

Survivors include: his wife, Rebecca Poertner of the home, four sons, Ian Poertner and wife, Claudia, St. Louis, MO; Jay Wilkins, Springfield, MO; Sam Poertner, St. Charles, MO; and Joe Poertner of the home; his mother, Helen Musenbrock, O'Fallon, MO; two sisters, Emily Trantham, O'Fallon, MO; and Janet Williams, O'Fallon, MO.

He was preceded in death by his father, and a son, Christopher Poertner.