William O. "Bill" Sater 1916 - 2000

SATER, WARTH, PUGH

Posted By: debbie (email)
Date: 2/24/2007 at 23:04:41

The Burlington Hawkeye, November 18, 2000

William O. "Bill" Sater, 83, of Mount Pleasant, died at 10:24 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000, at Mapleleaf Healthcare Center in Mount Pleasant.

Born Dec. 28, 1916, near New London, he was the son of Willis H. and Bethiah Laughin Sater. He married Helen E. Warth on May 29, 1941, in St. Louis, Mo.

Mr. Sater was a 1934 graduate of New London High School and lived most of his life in Mount Pleasant. He was a welder and blacksmith by trade and owned and operated Sater Blacksmith Shop for 47 years, retiring in 1981.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Mount Pleasant Rotary Club and Southeast Iowa Antique Car Club. He served 40 years on the Mount Pleasant Fire Department, beginning in 1942 as a substitute and retiring in 1981. He served as chief of the department from Jan. 2, 1976, to Dec. 31, 1981. He helped form the local Welders and Blacksmiths Association, of which he became president in 1966. He was named Blacksmith of the Year in 1985, and was given a lifetime membership in 1981. He served for 31 years on the Board of Directors of Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Association, being named director emeritus in 1983, and serving as president for 18 years. He served as grand marshal of the Harvest Parade in 1985, and was active with the Old Threshers School Tours program. He received the Old Threshers Award in 1985. As a member of Mount Pleasant Rotary International, he was named Man of the Month in 1973. In 1975, he received the Citizen of the Year award from Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. In 1967, he received the James A. Harlan award for high achievement and community service from Iowa Wesleyan College. He and his wife were active in Southeast Iowa Antique Car Club, exhibiting several cars and trucks. His 1930 Ford delivery truck received the Featured Car Award in 1991.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Thomas W. Sater of Chicago, Ill.; one daughter, Mary Ellen Pugh of Springfield, Mo.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by one brother.

Visitation will begin at noon Saturday at Weir Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, where the family will receive friends from 3 to 7 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Sater will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Douglas Hall officiating. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Forest Home Cemetery.

Memorials have been established for First Presbyterian Church and Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Association.