Schaefer, William N. 1921-2006

SCHAEFER, WOCHNER, POTTS

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/27/2009 at 10:38:52

From: Sioux City Journal, December 29, 2006

LE MARS, Iowa -- William N. "Bill" Schaefer, 85, of Le Mars passed away Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at his residence.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church E.L.C.A. in Le Mars, with the Rev. Gary Landsness officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the American Legion Wasmer Post 241. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume 1 p.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

William Nicholas Schaefer was born July 15, 1921, in St. Louis, Mo., to William and Crescentia (Wochner) Schaefer. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church in St. Louis. He received his education in Brentwood, Mo., graduating from Brentwood High School in 1939. Following high school, he went to work for the Carter Carburetor Co. in St. Louis. Upon the beginning of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps from September 1941 until October 1945. He had served as a airplane mechanic, gunner and gunnery instructor. He later served not only with the Army Air Corps but also the U.S. Air Force from November 1947 to November 1951. While in the service, he was a decorated member of the 93rd Squadron Bombardment Group, having flown 11 highly successful bombing missions.

He was united in marriage to Jane Potts on June 15, 1946, in Brentwood, Mo. Following his discharge from the service, he returned to St. Louis and continued working for the Carter Carburetor Co. as a tool maker. He retired in 1983 after 43 years of service. In his retirement, he had kept busy working. The couple managed a storage complex, worked in maintenance at a Woolworth Department Store in Des Peres, Mo., and worked for Royal Gate Dodge in Ellisville, Mo. for nine years. He and Jane moved to Le Mars to be closer to family in 1989.

The couple are members of St. John's Lutheran Church. He had been very active with the American Legion Moll Post 101 in Brentwood, Mo., having served as commander. While living in Le Mars, he received the designation of a lifetime member of the American Legion. He enjoyed working in his shop and was a very accomplished carpenter. He enjoyed reading military and history books.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Jane of Le Mars; two daughters and their husbands, June and Dell Ferguson of Le Mars and Shirley and Alan Rowald of Naples, Fla.; a son and his wife, Steve and Rita Schaefer of Madison, Ga.; six grandchildren, John Rowald of Lansing, Mich., Angela Watson of Sioux City, Adam Ferguson and his wife, Heather of Tampa, Fla., Ashley Ferguson of Le Mars, Hope and her husband, Craig Johnson of Des Moines, and Amy and her husband, Mark Newkirk of Dayton, Ohio; seven great-grandchildren, Connor Watson, Noah Watson, Savannah Rice, Madison Rice, Grace Johnson, Ellie Johnson and Megan Newkirk; three sisters and their husbands, Metta and Charles Wilcox of Kennesaw, Neb., Virginia and Bill Bailey of Kirkwood, Mo., and Barb and Bill Borghoff of Naperville, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Crescentia (Wochner) Schaefer.