Herman Mendoza Lara, age 78, of Iberia, died Friday, December 12, 2008, at the Miller County Care and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Santa Barbara, California, on May 27, 1930, son of Marcos and Ynez (Mendoza) Lara. On October 20, 1955, in Trieste, Italy, he was married to Evelina Martini, who survives at the home.

He joined the Army in 1946 and was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. His first assignment was in the Army of Occupation following World War II in Trieste, Italy. He served in infantry units in Ulm, Germany, Ft. Lewis, Washington, Germany, and Ft. Leonard Wood. During his 21 years of service, he earned multiple campaign ribbons, two Purple Hearts, a combat infantry badge, and the Presidential Unit Citation. He retired as a Staff Sergeant in 1967. After his retirement from the military, he worked for Civil Service for over 20 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Plato and the Abou Ben Adhem Temple in Springfield.

Other survivors include four daughters, Loana Evans and husband Rick of Joplin, Barbara Bakke and husband Doug of Yukon, Oklahoma, Irene Chamberlain and husband Scott of Dumfries, Virginia, and Tina Alderman and husband Bud of Iberia; eight grandchildren, Kirsten Evans, Ashly Daniel, Courtney Evans, Tabitha Pemberton, Tonya Mayhew, Dillon Barnfield, Phillip Roberson, and Michael Chamberlain; eight great-grandchildren; and one brother, Phil Lara of Santa Barbara, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents and six brothers and sisters.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 15, at Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia. Rev. Dennis Nichols will officiate. Interment with military honors will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Iberia.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Pleasant Hill Cemetery.