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Ronald Walter Graetz 1922 - 2017

ROUSE, GRAETZ, OLSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/27/2017 at 13:33:52

Sioux City Journal
17 June 2017

Ronald Walter Graetz, 95, formerly of Soldier, passed on June 10, 2017 in San Diego, Calif.

As he wished, the body will be cremated. His ashes will be scattered on the Pacific waters, to join those of his wife, in a private family service.

Ronald was born on May 5, 1922, in Soldier, the third son of Walter Martin and Edith Malinda (Rouse) Graetz. He attended Soldier Public School and graduated from Soldier High School in 1939.

In 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until October 1946. He served aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise until after the Battle of Midway and, later, aboard the USS Hornet until she was sunk in the Battle of Santa Cruz.

He arrived home on Christmas night in 1942 and, on Dec. 30, 1942, he married his high-school sweetheart, Marcella Mae Olson, in Omaha. He completed Navy pilots training and earned his Navy Gold Wings. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked a variety of trades but the most prominent was office management, from which he retired when he and his wife decided to move to San Diego in 1980 to be close to their son, Woody, and his family.

He was a member of the Soldier American Legion Post, 462, for more than 40 years. Most recently, Ronald and his family, attended the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway Commemoration aboard the USS Midway, where he was honored.

He is survived by his son, Woody of San Diego; two granddaughters, Tristine Graetz, of San Diego, and Tara Graetz Wee of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; and two great-grandsons, Zander Graetz and Woody Broden Wee.

He was preceded in his death by his parents; two brothers, Julius who died in infancy, and Maurice at age 67.


 

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