Gerald Bruce Poertner

Hinesville 1SG Gerald B. "Gary" Poertner (US ARMY, Retired), 60, of Hinesville died Friday at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, KY, following a short illness. A native of Traverse City, Michigan, he had lived in Hinesville since 1992. First Sergeant Poertner served in the US Army for 22 years. He was a Desert Storm Veteran and a Life Member of the VFW. After retiring from the Army he worked for Liberty Concrete for 20 years. He was a member of St. Stephen First Martyr Catholic Church. Surviving are his wife of 37 years, Gudrun Poertner of Hinesville; son, Markus Poertner (Regina) of Hinesville; three daughters, Jennifer Dolman (Jonathan) of Yuma, AZ, Michelle Poertner and Natasha Poertner of Hinesville; sister, Evelyn Ayres of Tennessee, three brothers, and five grandchildren. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Stephen First Martyr Catholic Church. Burial with Full Military Honors will be at 1:00 p.m. in the Georgia Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Glennville. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald Bruce Poertner, please visit our flower store.