“Dad was into recycling before most people knew what recycling was,” said his son, Dennis.
Enderle died Sunday from complications of pneumonia at age 95.
Enderle was born in Colerain on July 26, 1916, and worked on a farm for much of his early life He married Marian Lyons and moved to Hamilton in 1938. He worked in a factory, except for a brief time in the Navy during World War II, but longed to own his own business.
He started hauling scrap as a side business around 1950, and it grew so popular so fast he was able to quit the job and focus on that full time, his son said.
Enderle was the oldest of 10 children as was his wife Marian. The couple had 10 children of their own.
“Christmastime could be very hectic,” his son recalled. “There was a lot of people.”
Enderle worked in the scrap business until he was 89 and all six of his sons worked for him.
“He was stern, but he was a good boss,” his son said.
Dennis said his fondest memories of his father were his love of Cadillacs - he owned several in his lifetime - and parties the extended family would have on Sundays.
“During the week, he was all business, but on Sunday, he knew how to party,” he said.
Enderle was fiercely independent, living on his own until March of this year, his son said.
He is survived by eight children, 30 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hamilton.
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