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RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Lt. Col. Donald E. Lundberg, a resident of Rutherford for 47 years, died Saturday, July 9. He was 91.
Born in 1925 in Mt. Jewett, Pa., he was the son of Bert and Emelia Lundberg.
He proudly served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and, entering the service in 1944. He belonged to the 20th Air Force, 58th Bomb Wing, 793rd Squadron and 468th Bomb Group. His unit was stationed in the Tinian Islands in 1945.
His awards and decorations were Air Offensive Japan, Western Pacific Campaign, China Offensive (Battle Stars), American Campaign Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, Air Medal, Philippine Independence and NJ Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
He was a navigator on board the B-29 Dragon Lady. After his impressive military career, he went to New York University, where he achieved a master’s degree in banking and finance. He was employed with MetLife in New York City from 1946-88 as the staff manager of group national accounts.
Some of his many accomplishments included grand marshal of the Rutherford Memorial Day Parade, being the North Arlington Elks #1992 “Man of the Year,” being a member of the Rutherford American Legion Post 109, Treasurer for the “Old Guard” Club and one of the co-founders of the New England Air Museum Restoration B-29 “Jacks Hack
He is survived by his wife Lillian; children, Susan Garbe and husband Ted, Janice Guzman and husband Ray; and grandchildren, Scott, Lauren, Emma and Alex.
He was predeceased by his siblings, Helen Ehnat, Gladys Kaufmann, Bert Lundberg, Paul Lundberg and Dorothy Bender.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday with a 10:30 a.m. prayer service at the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home, 19 Lincoln Ave., Rutherford. Interment to follow at Hillside Cemetery, Lyndhurst. The Rev. Jeffrey Walters will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tomorrow’s Children Fund.
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