Elise Tolu "E.T." Muaau (2007)

MUAAU, AULAVA, KEPPLE, ABNER, TUFELE, SAVUSA, STOVELL

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 5/31/2007 at 21:43:13

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
May 30, 2007

ELISE MUAAU, Bayard

Elise Tolu “E.T.” Muaau, 66, of Bayard died May 21, 2007, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston from health complications due to exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Funeral services were held Friday, May 25, at the First Baptist Church in Guthrie Center with Pastor Jim Ackerson officiating. Burial was at Winterset Cemetery with military honors presented by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8142 and American Legion Post 184, both of Winterset.

E.T. Muaau was born Dec. 17, 1940, in American Samoa to Muaau Aulava and Toluselau Sapakuku Aulava. He attended school in Samoa until moving to Hawaii to live with his uncle. In 1961, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. His marriage to Agnes Rosalie Kepple took place March 11, 1966, in San Diego, Calif. The family resided in Hawaii and California. While stationed in Okinawa, he was deployed to Vietnam. After 30 years in the Marine Corps, E.T. retired in January of 1991 as Master Gunnery Sergeant. On Jan. 22, 1991, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. He had been promoted two ranks by meritorious awards. E.T. then worked in Civil Service for 15 years. When he and Rose retired, they moved to Bayard. He had been a faithful Christian since 1967.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Pulemau Aulava; and a brother, Maugasolo Aulava.

He is survived by his wife, Rose, of Bayard; one daughter, Roxanne Muaau-Abner of Hesperia, Calif.; two sons, Elise T. Muaau Jr. and Joseph M. Muaau, both of Colorado; 10 siblings — Tofiga Tufele, Meleane Savusa, Fereti Aulava, Sophia Aulava, Taumafai Aulava, Filiga Aulave, Miliama Stovall, Onosai Aulava, Samuelu Aulava and Vaveao Aulave; and 10 grandchildren.