Sagers, William O.

SAGERS, NILSEN, NELSON, RIPPLE, CLARK

Posted By: Carol (email)
Date: 4/9/2007 at 15:58:29

MAQUOKETA — William O. Sagers, 96, of Maquoketa, died Friday at the Jackson County Regional Health Center, Maquoketa.

Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa.

He was born March 23, 1911, to Charles and Ingeborg Nilsen Nelson in New York City. Due to his mother’s death at age 3, his father placed him in a Catholic orphanage. At age 8, he was put on the orphan train to Maquoketa. He was taken in by Mrs. Jesse Sagers. He married F. Marie Ripple on July 2, 1936, in Maquoketa. She died in 1998.

He worked as a farmhand. He later worked with the Chicago Railroad building bridges and buildings. He also farmed south of Iron Hill for 26 years and was a custodian at Briggs School for 10 years before retiring in 1974. He then worked part time as a radio dispatcher at the Maquoketa Police Department.

He was a longtime member of KP Lodge and was a volunteer at the Jackson County Senior Center.

He was reunited with his brother, Arthur John Wessel Nelson, in 1999 after being separated for 85 years.

Survivors include one daughter, Nanci (Garry) Clark of Maquoketa; one daughter-in-law, MaDonna Sagers of Maquoketa; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Arthur John Wessel Nelson of New Jersey.

Memorials are preferred.

He was preceded in death by his wife, one son, parents and one brother.

Source: Clinton Herald: Clinton, Iowa
Death date: April 6, 2007