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SAUNDERS, Wilson J. 1918-2011

SAUNDERS, SCHREMPF, HUGHES, COFFEE, SCHILTZ, SCHEMMEL, UNGS, MESCHER, GLESSNER, WEST

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/15/2011 at 02:40:45

[Waterloo Courier, Wednesday, January 12, 2011]

WATERLOO - Wilson J. Saunders, 92, of Waterloo, died peacefully in his sleep Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at the home of his son Bob in Iowa City. By his side in life, as well as death, were family members and friends. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Edward's Catholic Church, Waterloo. Friends may call at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway Avenue on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Knights of Columbus rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a vigil at 7:30 p.m. There also will be a visitation for an hour at the church prior to services Saturday. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, where full military rites will be conducted by Waterloo AMVETS Post 19 and Evansdale AMVETS Post 31. Flag presentation by the Iowa Army Honor Guard.

Wilson was born Nov. 11, 1918, at Mercy Hospital, Dubuque, the son of Gordon A. and Marguerite G. (Schrempf) Saunders. The nurse brought their newborn son into her room and asked if they had a name. As this was the day that World War I ended, they decided to name their son after President Wilson.

He grew up in Dubuque, the city he loved. Wilson attended Senior High School and in 1937 won the 100- and 220-yard dashes at the state track meet as he led his beloved Senior High to the state championship, the only state track title that Senior has ever won. He only lost one race in high school, and his school record time of 21.7 in the 220 still stands to this day. Following graduation he attended Loras College on a track scholarship, majoring in economics. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy as a fighter pilot. An unfortunate illness would force an end to his flying days and an honorable discharge from the Navy. The Army was forming a special railroad battalion whose mission would be to build a railroad from India into China in order to attack Japan on a 2nd front. With his prior experience working on the Illinois Central Railroad he then enlisted in the Army. While home on furlough before leaving for duty, he was united in marriage to Marie R. Ungs at Holy Trinity Church, Luxemburg, on June 7, 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater from 1943-45. He would survive a near-fatal episode of malaria as well as a serious head wound to return home to Marie. They would enjoy 63 wonderful years together.

Following the war he returned to work for the Illinois Central Railroad. The early years of his career took their family to several states. In October 1954, they moved back from Memphis, Tenn., to their beloved Iowa to be closer to family and friends, building the home on Baltimore Street where they would raise their four children and spend the next 52 years together. He retired from the ICRR in 1982. The next 29 years were spent making his dreams come true; spending time with Marie enjoying their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, traveling around the country visiting family and friends, playing golf at South Hills Golf Course, volunteering to visit the ill for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, having red raspberry pie afternoons at the Village Inn, being inducted in 1996 into the Senior High Hall of Fame and spending as much time as possible with his family at their summer home on the majestic bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River at McGregor. He will be forever remembered for his engaging smile that was always present and for the countless memorable stories that he shared with one and all.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Marie (2006); siblings, the Rev. Robert J. (2007), Gordon (2000) and Rosalie Hughes Saunders (1986), John (1984) and Joan May Saunders (2006), Michael (1967) and Mae Saunders (1970), Betty (1997), and Marguerite (1989) and Gus Schemmel (1980); in-laws, Charlie (1994) and Grace Ungs Coffee (2003), Teresa Ungs Schiltz (1999), Arthur Ungs (1991), Vincent (1997) and Lucille Ungs Mescher (2003), and Ray (2003) and Irma Ungs Glessner (2000).

He is survived by three sons, Richard (Peggy) and Robert, both of Iowa City, and Ken (Angie) of Austin, Texas; a daughter, Susan of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Sean (Heather) of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Kevin of Omaha, Neb., Ryan of Urbandale, and Abby and Maddie of Austin; great-grandson, Jackson; stepgrandchildren, Lori (Chad) Steffens of North Liberty, Erin (Asa) Anderson of Arvada, Colo., and Eric (Heather) Erwin of Iowa City; stepgreat-grandchildren, Lucy, Lily, Harper and Cade; brother-in-law, Jim Schiltz Sr. of Cedar Rapids; sister-in-law, Germaine Ungs of Luxemburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials are asked to be made to the Columbus High School Foundation and St. Edward's Catholic School Library.


 

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