W.C. Peinhardt passed away on April 20, 2024. He was 97 years old.

A true son of Cullman County, he was born to A.H. and Hattie (Voigt) Peinhardt on December 8, 1926, in Cullman. After her husband's death, Hattie bought land to farm in Johnson's Crossing near her own family's farm and built a house in 1936. Apart from his time in Auburn and the army, W.C. lived in that same house until he died there, surrounded by children and grandchildren.

He graduated from Hanceville High School in 1944 and spent a year at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (later renamed Auburn University) before being drafted into the U.S. Army during WWII. After serving in Namur, Belgium, W.C. came back home and completed two years at St. Bernard in Cullman before heading back to API where he earned his degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1950.

He began his career at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville with Wernher von Braun's new rocket development team where he helped test the German V-1 and V-2 rocket equipment to see how it performed in humid Southeast conditions. When an opening became available at Greif Bros. Corporation in Cullman in 1951, W.C. jumped on the chance to drop the daily commute to Huntsville because he knew he would never leave his beloved farm. He retired from Greif Bros. in 1993 as Vice President of Engineering.

W.C. married Dorothea McNutt of Hanceville on April 4, 1951, and she helped him discover what became his true joy in life: family. He and Dot had six children who, in turn, gave them 10 grandchildren. The grandkids loved visiting the farm, where Mamaw and Papaw created wonderful memories with tractor rides, bonfires and the occasional ice cream for breakfast. Mostly, though, they fostered a deep love of family. Dot died too soon in 2010 and never met their two great-grandchildren, who brought much joy to W.C.'s life.

He served in numerous capacities at Christ Lutheran, the church his father helped establish and where five generations have worshiped. He was elected to the board of the Cullman County Commission on Education from 1966-1971 and was chairman for the 1970-1971 term, and he served his community for years as a member of the Hanceville Lion's Club. In 1950, he had the distinction of being Cullman's last Strawberry King.

W.C. is survived by his children and their spouses: Al and Cathy Peinhardt of Gearhart, Oregon; Mary Jo and Richard Lakin of Hanceville; Bill and Julie Peinhardt of Cheshire, Connecticut; Cindy and Robert Gonstad of Hanceville; Chris and Thomas Gropp of Rochester Hills, Michigan; and Amy and Bill Harley of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. His grandchildren are Patrick Wisener of Cullman; Andrew Wisener of Hanceville; Ryan Peinhardt (Jasmine) of Raleigh, North Carolina; Matthew Peinhardt of Seaside, Oregon; Beth Gonstad Stevens (Matthew) of Madison; Kate Gonstad Esteves (Frank) of Harvest; Katherine Peinhardt of Freiburg, Germany; Christopher Peinhardt of Savannah, Georgia; Max Harley of Greenville, South Carolina; and Grant Harley of Clemson, South Carolina. Great-grandchildren are Zoey Wisener (Andrew) and Alder Stevens (Beth).

The visitation and service will be held Saturday, April 27, at Christ Lutheran Church: 424 2nd Avenue SE in Cullman. Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m. with service beginning at 2 p.m. Interment will immediately follow at Hopewell Cemetery in Hanceville. Arrangements are by Hanceville Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Christ Lutheran Church (PO Box 974, Cullman, AL 35056) or the Peinhardt Living History Farm (PO Box 1938, Cullman, AL 35056).