Walter L. Sembach 1927-2012

KNEPPER SEMBACH O’DONNELL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/24/2012 at 18:30:30

Sioux City Journal
November 14, 2012

SIOUX CITY | Walter L. Sembach, 85, of Sioux City passed away Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at a local care facility.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Chaplain Steven Benson will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Saturday at the funeral home.

Walter was born on Oct. 2, 1927, in Sioux City, the son of William and Olive (Knepper) Sembach. He grew up during the Depression era in the Riverside area of Sioux City. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in occupied Japan.

Walter married Betty M. O’Donnell in 1951 in Luverne, Minn. Walter was a foreman at Armour & Co. for 17 years. He worked for Iowa Pork Products in Perry, Iowa, and then returned to Sioux City where he fulfilled his dream of operating his own service station. He owned and operated Walt’s Standard at 38th and Hamilton Blvd. from 1967 to 1976. He then moved to 27th and Pierce St. and operated his station there from 1976 to 1991. He then worked for Charlie Zook Motors from 1991 to 1996.

Walter enjoyed boating and fishing. He was a member of the Missouri River Boat Club and the I.P.S. Harbor Club. He wintered in south Texas for 15 years and enjoyed spending time with his many new friends there. He also enjoyed his cats, Spike and Joonyer.

Survivors include his three children, Steven Sembach and his wife, Susan of Sioux City, Ranae Hill and her husband, H. David of Vail, Ariz., Wade Sembach of Sioux City; four grandchildren, Katie Byam and her husband, Kris, Emily Jones and her husband, Aaron, Keri Hill and Justin Hill; a great-grandson, Brayden Byam; his brother, Warren Johns and his wife, Selma of Omaha; and in-laws, Fern Sembach of Spencer, Iowa, Caroline Johns of Sioux City, James O’Donnell of Sioux City, Thomas O’Donnell of Sioux City, Martha "Mary" (O’Donnel) Meisner of South Sioux City, Jeanette (O’Donnell) and husband, Ralph Wilson of Sioux City, Charlene Kirk of Salix, Iowa, Gary and Bea O’Donnell of Boise, Idaho, Lyle O’Donnell of Casa Grande, Ariz., Carla (O’Donnell) and husband, Larry Schlines of Sioux City, Gerri (Gergin) O’Donnell of Sioux City, Marilyn O’Donnell of Sioux City, Theresa Guge of Sioux City, and Florance Rusley of Storm Lake, Iowa.

Preceding Walter to heaven were his parents; wife, Betty; parents-in-law, Joseph and Marie (Ducommun) O’Donnell; brothers, William Sembach, Harold Sembach, George Sembach, and Charles Johns; and brothers-in–law, Robert O’Donnell, William Kirk, Joseph O’Donnell, and Jerry Meisner.

Pallbearers will be Steven Sembach, Wade Sembach, Kris Byam, and Aaron Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Leonard Sembach, Dick Gottburg, and Steve Maher.

Memorials may be directed to Care Initiatives Hospice of Sioux City.