Herbert Proopst
September 14, 1930 - November 15, 2012
Herbert Proopst, 82 of Ontario, California, passed away on November 15, 2012. Born on September 14, 1930 in Narva near Tallinn in Estonia, he was the son of the late Albert and Olga Kukk Proopst. When he was 15 years old, in 1944, he moved to Tallinn with his parents and Aunt Linda by walking in the freezing weather on the Narva highway. After being there for only a month, their apartment was destroyed by Russian bombers, and they had to move to an apartment in PäRNU. His mom worked in a factory weaving parachute silk for the government, and his father worked as a painter for a fishing company. As the war loomed closer, he and his family had to move to Germany. Two days after they left, PäRNU fell to the Russians. Some of the ships did not make it to Germany, but Herbert's did. They arrived in Reichenberg, Germany and stayed in the barracks at a Labor Camp. His mom went back to weaving parachute silk and his dad worked as a painter in the factory. Herbert went to German High School for two years and his job was to run an elevator up and down between four floors. As the Russians got closer, the camp people organized an escape by pooling their money and jewelry to get a box car to hook up to the back of a train. They left at midnight and got to the Elbe River only to find out the Germans had bombed the bridge so that the Russian tanks could not cross. They were without food for a couple of days before they got back to camp. When they returned to the camp, the Russians were there. The Germans were being kicked out of Thehosvakia, so Herbert and his family snuck on the train with the Germans, where they traveled through Prague and ended up in Amberg, Germany – American Sector.
There they stayed in a DP (Displaced Person) camp where they were fed, provided shelter and hospitalization when needed. Once the finances ran out to keep the refugees, they were allowed to immigrate out of the country. His aunt Linda moved to Canada in 1948 to start a new life. In 1949, Herbert's family told by the American Immigration that they had found a Catholic Church to sponsor them to America. They spent 11 days on the ocean and landed late Christmas Eve in New Orleans Harbor.
He was employed as an airplane maintenance mechanic for 34 years, and was a member of the American Legion. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged from his service with the Air Force on July 23rd, 1959. Herbert was a very patriotic man, and was extremely proud that he was able to serve his country.
He will be laid to rest at Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario, California.
Graveside Service Friday, November 23, 2012 2:00pm Bellevue Memorial Park 1240 W G St Ontario, CA.
September 14, 1930 - November 15, 2012
Herbert Proopst, 82 of Ontario, California, passed away on November 15, 2012. Born on September 14, 1930 in Narva near Tallinn in Estonia, he was the son of the late Albert and Olga Kukk Proopst. When he was 15 years old, in 1944, he moved to Tallinn with his parents and Aunt Linda by walking in the freezing weather on the Narva highway. After being there for only a month, their apartment was destroyed by Russian bombers, and they had to move to an apartment in PäRNU. His mom worked in a factory weaving parachute silk for the government, and his father worked as a painter for a fishing company. As the war loomed closer, he and his family had to move to Germany. Two days after they left, PäRNU fell to the Russians. Some of the ships did not make it to Germany, but Herbert's did. They arrived in Reichenberg, Germany and stayed in the barracks at a Labor Camp. His mom went back to weaving parachute silk and his dad worked as a painter in the factory. Herbert went to German High School for two years and his job was to run an elevator up and down between four floors. As the Russians got closer, the camp people organized an escape by pooling their money and jewelry to get a box car to hook up to the back of a train. They left at midnight and got to the Elbe River only to find out the Germans had bombed the bridge so that the Russian tanks could not cross. They were without food for a couple of days before they got back to camp. When they returned to the camp, the Russians were there. The Germans were being kicked out of Thehosvakia, so Herbert and his family snuck on the train with the Germans, where they traveled through Prague and ended up in Amberg, Germany – American Sector.
There they stayed in a DP (Displaced Person) camp where they were fed, provided shelter and hospitalization when needed. Once the finances ran out to keep the refugees, they were allowed to immigrate out of the country. His aunt Linda moved to Canada in 1948 to start a new life. In 1949, Herbert's family told by the American Immigration that they had found a Catholic Church to sponsor them to America. They spent 11 days on the ocean and landed late Christmas Eve in New Orleans Harbor.
He was employed as an airplane maintenance mechanic for 34 years, and was a member of the American Legion. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged from his service with the Air Force on July 23rd, 1959. Herbert was a very patriotic man, and was extremely proud that he was able to serve his country.
He will be laid to rest at Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario, California.
Graveside Service Friday, November 23, 2012 2:00pm Bellevue Memorial Park 1240 W G St Ontario, CA.
Herbert Proopst
September 14, 1930 - November 15, 2012
Herbert Proopst, 82 of Ontario, California, passed away on November 15, 2012. Born on September 14, 1930 in Narva near Tallinn in Estonia, he was the son of the late Albert and Olga Kukk Proopst. When he was 15 years old, in 1944, he moved to Tallinn with his parents and Aunt Linda by walking in the freezing weather on the Narva highway. After being there for only a month, their apartment was destroyed by Russian bombers, and they had to move to an apartment in PäRNU. His mom worked in a factory weaving parachute silk for the government, and his father worked as a painter for a fishing company. As the war loomed closer, he and his family had to move to Germany. Two days after they left, PäRNU fell to the Russians. Some of the ships did not make it to Germany, but Herbert's did. They arrived in Reichenberg, Germany and stayed in the barracks at a Labor Camp. His mom went back to weaving parachute silk and his dad worked as a painter in the factory. Herbert went to German High School for two years and his job was to run an elevator up and down between four floors. As the Russians got closer, the camp people organized an escape by pooling their money and jewelry to get a box car to hook up to the back of a train. They left at midnight and got to the Elbe River only to find out the Germans had bombed the bridge so that the Russian tanks could not cross. They were without food for a couple of days before they got back to camp. When they returned to the camp, the Russians were there. The Germans were being kicked out of Thehosvakia, so Herbert and his family snuck on the train with the Germans, where they traveled through Prague and ended up in Amberg, Germany – American Sector.
There they stayed in a DP (Displaced Person) camp where they were fed, provided shelter and hospitalization when needed. Once the finances ran out to keep the refugees, they were allowed to immigrate out of the country. His aunt Linda moved to Canada in 1948 to start a new life. In 1949, Herbert's family told by the American Immigration that they had found a Catholic Church to sponsor them to America. They spent 11 days on the ocean and landed late Christmas Eve in New Orleans Harbor.
He was employed as an airplane maintenance mechanic for 34 years, and was a member of the American Legion. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged from his service with the Air Force on July 23rd, 1959. Herbert was a very patriotic man, and was extremely proud that he was able to serve his country.
He will be laid to rest at Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario, California.
Graveside Service Friday, November 23, 2012 2:00pm Bellevue Memorial Park 1240 W G St Ontario, CA.
September 14, 1930 - November 15, 2012
Herbert Proopst, 82 of Ontario, California, passed away on November 15, 2012. Born on September 14, 1930 in Narva near Tallinn in Estonia, he was the son of the late Albert and Olga Kukk Proopst. When he was 15 years old, in 1944, he moved to Tallinn with his parents and Aunt Linda by walking in the freezing weather on the Narva highway. After being there for only a month, their apartment was destroyed by Russian bombers, and they had to move to an apartment in PäRNU. His mom worked in a factory weaving parachute silk for the government, and his father worked as a painter for a fishing company. As the war loomed closer, he and his family had to move to Germany. Two days after they left, PäRNU fell to the Russians. Some of the ships did not make it to Germany, but Herbert's did. They arrived in Reichenberg, Germany and stayed in the barracks at a Labor Camp. His mom went back to weaving parachute silk and his dad worked as a painter in the factory. Herbert went to German High School for two years and his job was to run an elevator up and down between four floors. As the Russians got closer, the camp people organized an escape by pooling their money and jewelry to get a box car to hook up to the back of a train. They left at midnight and got to the Elbe River only to find out the Germans had bombed the bridge so that the Russian tanks could not cross. They were without food for a couple of days before they got back to camp. When they returned to the camp, the Russians were there. The Germans were being kicked out of Thehosvakia, so Herbert and his family snuck on the train with the Germans, where they traveled through Prague and ended up in Amberg, Germany – American Sector.
There they stayed in a DP (Displaced Person) camp where they were fed, provided shelter and hospitalization when needed. Once the finances ran out to keep the refugees, they were allowed to immigrate out of the country. His aunt Linda moved to Canada in 1948 to start a new life. In 1949, Herbert's family told by the American Immigration that they had found a Catholic Church to sponsor them to America. They spent 11 days on the ocean and landed late Christmas Eve in New Orleans Harbor.
He was employed as an airplane maintenance mechanic for 34 years, and was a member of the American Legion. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged from his service with the Air Force on July 23rd, 1959. Herbert was a very patriotic man, and was extremely proud that he was able to serve his country.
He will be laid to rest at Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario, California.
Graveside Service Friday, November 23, 2012 2:00pm Bellevue Memorial Park 1240 W G St Ontario, CA.
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