Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Condolences to his family and loved ones

Carson loveless

April 19, 2024

Deputy Constable Hornberger,
On today, the 90th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Perryville. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

April 19, 2020

Rest in peace Night Marshal Hornberger.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

February 18, 2020

Rest In Peace Brother LEO. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

April 19, 2018

After many years of thinking about this site for Fallen Officers I am once again offering my deep appreciation for every officer that has given all for the safety and security of this nation, our families and our happiness. This site provides me with that opportunity. This is truly a wonderful effort/site much to be advocated in our thoughts and prayers.

Grandson, Donn Hornberger
retired, DOC, Illinois

November 27, 2015

Thank you for the thoughtful insight.

Grandson, Donn Hornberger
retired, DOC, Illinois

November 27, 2015

I had previously posted a reflection for Constable Hornberger. but after reading the moving portrayal of his surviving family's grief journey, I am honored to once again pay homage to this American hero and his heroic family. I thank Constable Hornberger for the supreme sacrifice that he and his family made 82 years ago.

I am sure that you are proud that your family continued your legacy of protecting and serving. Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

April 19, 2012

Deputy Constable Hornberger,
On today, the 79th aniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citiznens of Perry County. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous

April 19, 2009

What else happens when a man serving his country leaves us inline of duty? We know about the immediate death. We understand that loss. But, what else?
My father, Edwin Oscar, first son of Oscar Edwin, was only 15 yrs old when this happened. He alone became the head of his family, to include his mother Dora and his smaller brother, Harry and sister Delilah. Dad was to become an all conference football player receiving many offers to attend college and eventually played two seasons for the Chicago professional team with George Musso until he suffered knee injuries.
As a 15 yr old, everyday Ed woke up and ran to downtown Perryville to stoke the fires and set up the businesses. At night, he swept hair from the floor of the barbershop and stacked boxes at the grocery stores. Then, he ran to the high school where he made "A" grades. At 6'6", he couldn't play bsketball because the downtown stores he worked at after the day in school would be closed and he'd lose the money that replaced what his father lost in death.
On weekends, he seldom dated because he worked setting pins at the bowling alley Friday nights and Sunday evenings and all Saturday shining shoes. That's all weekend if you're counting. He attended church every Sunday morning. Finally, in his early 20's, with very little family income and the Great Depression raging, Ed gave up his interests in the family farm (350 acres) for the support of mother, sister, brother. As Harry and Delilah married, Ed paid for them. They were all close. They remained close as long as they were alive. Harry went first in the early 1950's with a sudden cardiac condition. This loss was extraordinarily difficult for Ed. Ed again stepped up and began to do whatever he could to assist with the life Harry had left behind and the six boys and a wife, Irma. This was our family during the best and worst of times; and, the family never roamed far from Immanuel Lutheran Church and their pastor, Rev. Barry Lomann. Ed, living in StL, became a respected member of Concordia Lutheran in Granite City, IL. Donn was baptized in Zion Lutheran in StL City. The boys of Harry were all baptized and provided for through the effots of their church and family. This was the pattern set well before Oscar left us. The funeral of Oscar was, in 1929, the single largest attended funeral to occur in Perryville to that point. Oscar was a well-respected man and so was his extended family. But, his leaving so suddenly put unimagined pressures on his immediate family survivors. There were no social safety nets, no benefits, no insurance, no entitlements...nothing but the town friends, a lot of good wishes and the faithful members of the church which their parents had helped to build many decades earlier. This was the fall-back position for the next decade. Ed lost his scholarships to be a doctor when he was compelled by moral obligations to care for his sudden new family responsibilities. Dora did what she could, taking in washing and cleaning homes around town.
During the Prohibition Era, many attempted to make extra cash from running illegal booze. The family of crooks that sent the "runner" from St. Louis to Perryville never considered the possibility of a death ensuing from their efforts. A farmer that allowed an illegal still to locate on his farm, never considered what might happen beyond the money he might make. Their families lost nothing we know about. Oscar's family lost a great man and a solid church and community leader.
How do the changes impact the descendants? Well, the story of Oscar's death was lost over 80 yrs to the extent that no one knew why any longer such photos exist of the funeral or wake. When approached 80 yrs later, not even the Sheriff knew of Oscar's service sacrifice. When Sheriff Perry County Gary Schaff heard the story, he immediately undertook to correct everyone's memory. For this, all the Hornberger's and descendants are thankful. But, back then, there was no citation or recognition. It took 80 yrs of silence and pain finally arriving at a point where there was almost no recollection of loss and neglect. There was no family safety net for memories. There were no bullet-proof vests. Pain is easier to forget.
Oscar rests in Jesus at the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery now beside his wife, Dora Mecker Hornberger. We think we can safely add Oscar never sought recognition nor did his immediate family. That's part of how the memory dulled over decades. There is something else for a family of a fallen officer. These men bring us to another page beyond their immediate death.
What they did fof all of us across the entire nation is to live the faith, set the highest example of service, live the gift and sacrifice what ever was required.
When we loose an officer in line of duty, there are many changes that wouldn't happen but for the loss. The dead are buried and gone. Their pain is over. Those that remain behind are left to pick up the pieces. Their pain is just beginning. With great faith and effort, those that are left forever work on accomplishing this task.
That's what Oscar left behind. Oscar left the kinds of kids and wife that pull together. What every officer has is the right to return every night to his family, fully alive and respected. There is an obligation all of us should tend to...its only this: Keep The Flame of Family, Faith and Sacrifice alive and well for the future to understand, learn and continue. The family of every fallen officer should have the gift of memories.
Donn Hornberger

Lt. Donn Hornberger, IDOC Parole Agent (
Grandson

March 5, 2009

It is amazing that we are just now recognizing hundreds of officers that gave the ultimate sacrifice so many years ago. I know locally it has taken a long time to get several of our heroes put on here and finally getting the recognition they deserve. It makes me happy to see the eones who were lost are finally being found. Thank you for your service fellow Hoosier brother. God bless from a former officer from central Indiana.

Former Officer
Fellow Hoosier

March 2, 2009

Rest in peace, hero, you are never forgotten.

K.L.

March 2, 2009

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 79th anniversary year of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

March 1, 2009