The Blogland pays its respects to the family of Beaufort County State Representative Bill Herbkersman for the passing of his father, Donald Herbkersman. A graduate of USC, Mr. Herbkersman met the call of duty to family and country as a parent who raised seven sons, an Army veteran of the Korean War, and active member of the American Legion. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

COLUMBIA - A Mass of Christian burial for Donald William Herbkersman, 77, will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2009, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Final Commendation and Farewell Prayers will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2009 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with visitation following until 9 p.m. Other visitations will be Thursday from 7 until 9 p.m. and Friday from 3 until 5 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Herbkersman died Tuesday August 18, 2009. Born in Bedford, Ohio, he was a son of the late Roland Fredrick and Anna Mae Zawacki Herbkersman. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. An Army veteran of the Korean War, he was also a member of the American Legion. Along with his seven sons, he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at the University of South Carolina. He retired from Square D.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Catherine “Katie” Phalen Herbkersman; six sons, James Jude of Venice, Calif., William Gerard (Mary) of Bluffton, Joseph Francis (Gayle) of Columbia, Thomas Patrick of Hilton Head Island, Timothy Michael of Columbia and Martin John (Scarlett) of Columbia; 13 grandchildren, Michael, Kaitlyn, Courtney, Matthew, Shelby, Cole, Tara, Bernie, Jack, Olivia, Roland, Thane, and Quentin.

He was predeceased by a son, Bernard Neil and a brother, James Leonard.

Memorials may be made to the Bernard Herbkersman Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Cardinal Newman High School, 4701 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC 29206.