WILTGEN, Vivien Frank 1922-1999

ZWEIBOHMER, WILTGEN, BAZTER, TIERNEY, ODONNELL, TORKELSON, ARCH, MCGEE, MECKLIN, OSHAUGHNESSY

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/16/2010 at 16:02:05

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, March 30, 1999

Vivien Frank Wiltgen

Vivien Frank Wiltgen, 76, of Waukon, died Thursday, March 25,1999, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon following a brief illness.

Funeral services were held Saturday, March 27, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon, with the Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg officiating.

Casket bearers were Roger Torkelson, Jim O'Donnell, Anne Torkelson, Casey Wiltgen, Jerry Welsh, Lloyd Schulte, Joe Egan and Carl Christianson.

Honorary bearers were Charles Baxter, John Keefe, Vince Mathis, Eugene Qesterle, Ed Ryan and Stan Ewing.

Burial with military rites was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waukon. The Martin Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Visitation at the home included a 4th Degree K.C. rosary service.

Vivien Frank Wiltgen was born March 27, 1922, in Ossian, the son of Joseph and Carrie (Zweibohmer) Wiltgen. He graduated from Ossian De Sales High School and attended Loras College in Dubuque.

On June 25, 1941, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving as Chief Petty Officer on PT boards and also as a Chief Motor Machinist Mate. He continued to serve until Oct. 8 1945. He saw duty all over the world.

On Aug. 23,1943, he married Helen Baxter in Waukon.

Following his time in the service Viv worked as a mechanic, and in clothing and furniture retail sales. He operated the Soda Grill Restaurant in Waukon for a time in the 1960s, and was involved in the plumbing and heating business.

He lived in Ossian, Rochester, Milwaukee, Chicago, Waukon and Webster City, before finally settling in Waukon in 1981. Helen died June 27, 1986.

On Aug. 22, 1990, Viv married Margaret Tierney at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon. He spent the last 16 years driving school bus for the Allamakee Community School District.

Viv was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon, a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a longtime member of the Waukon Volunteer Fire Dept., the V.F.W., and Waukon Senior Citizens.

He spent time volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul in Waukon, and working with the local military graveside rites detail. Viv enjoyed spending time with people and socializing with friends. He took immaculate care of his car and enjoyed recounting old stories from his service days.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret of Waukon; two daughter, Maralyn O'Donnell of Waukon and Geralyn and Roger Torkelson of Elkader; a son, Joel and Sarah Wiltgen of Jacksonville, N.C.; eight grandchildren; nine greatgrandchildren; and five sisters, Zephy Arch, Stella Wiltgen, Virginia and Jerry McGee, and Corrine Mecklin, all of Rochester, Minn., and Viola O'Shaughnessy of Oelwein.

Vivien Wiltgen was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen; infant children Mary Kay and Robert; sisters Marie Bartels and Irene Reiter and brothers Victor and Alfonso "Fonzy" Wiltgen.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.