DONALD LUTHER KORN

SAPULPA -- Donald L. Korn, 88, former Tresco owner, died Wednesday. Service 1 p.m. Friday, First Presbyterian Church. Smith.

SAPULPA -- Donald Luther Korn, 88, former Natasco employee and Tresco owner, died Wednesday. Memorial service 1 p.m. Friday. First Presbyterian Church. Smith.

From "The Tulsa World," Friday, January 10, 2003
Section A, Page 12

SAPULPA -- Donald Luther Korn, a survivor of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, died Wednesday. He was 88.

A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church under the direction of Smith Funeral Home.

Korn was born March 28, 1914, in Michigan City, Ind. He graduated from Indiana University in 1938 with a law degree and set up a practice in Michigan City until he entered the Navy a year later.

He was interested in aviation law, a new field at the time, so he discussed this with the Navy and was accepted as a Navy pilot candidate.

He was stationed on board the USS Raleigh at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked.

His ship was hit by one of the torpedos dropped from the first Japanese planes.

Korn quickly jumped into a plane and made his way to other pilots.

They took off in the 18 planes that remained undamaged and looked for more enemy planes.

He returned to Pearl Harbor unharmed and continued to serve in the Navy until 1946.

Korn had married Mary Katherine Schaum in 1943, and they moved to Sapulpa in 1949.

He worked for the Natasco company and later established Tresco, a Sapulpa-based business.

He later sold the business, but he continued consulting for Natasco until 1997.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as deacon, trustee and elder, and sang in the choir and taught Sunday school.

Korn is survived by a son, James D. Korn; a daughter, Donna Englebrecht; a sister, Ethel Umble; a brother, Gus Korn; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Friends are contributing to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.

KORN -- Donald Luther, died January 8, 2003. He was born March 28, 1914 in Michigan City, IN to August and Anna Korn. After graduating from Indiana University with a law degree, he became a Naval Aviator and was on the Raleigh at Pearl Harbor during the December 7, 1941 attack. He married Mary Katherine ("K") Schaum in 1943 and moved to Sapulpa in 1949. He worked in oil tank maintenance and owned Tresco, Inc. He retired from consulting for NATASCO in 1997. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sapulpa, where he had served as Deacon, Trustee, Elder, choir member and Sunday School Teacher. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, "K"; son, Alan; brother and sister, Elvin Korn and Dorothy Bacon. He is survived by son, James D. Korn and wife Lois; daughter, Donna Engelbrecht; grandchildren, Kristin Zanca and husband, Tom, Kiley Korn and wife, Megan, Andrew Engelbrecht, Bryce Engelbrecht, Greg Maddox and Eric Maddox and wife, Roxana; and 5 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ethel Umble; brother Gus Korn and wife, Val; brother-in-law, Richard Schaum; plus numerous nieces and nephews also survive. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Sapulpa, on January 10, at 1 p.m. with Rev. John Nelsen officiating. Interment will be at Green Hill Mausoleum, Sapulpa. Contributions may be made to Sapulpa First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or to a charity of your choice. Smith Funeral Home, Sapulpa, is handling arrangements, 224-1313.