William Adrian BIELEFELD

BIELEFELD, HUGHES, HENNIGAR, HANSEN, MCLAUGHLIN, JEFFRIES, THOMPSON, PATTSCHULL, SPEAKER, SWEENEY, CALLISON, SMITH, HOOD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/15/2010 at 22:20:07

January 7, 2001
Mason City Globe-Gazette - Iowa

MASON CITY - William Adrian 'Red' Bielefeld, 76, died of natural causes early Thursday (Jan. 4, 2001) at his home in Lindstrom, Minn. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 N. Adams, Mason City, with the Rev. Dennis Cahill officiating. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Rockwell, with full military rites. Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City. A scripture service will begin at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers those who want to express their sympathy may direct memorials to the William Bielefeld Memorial Fund.

Bill was born and lived in Klemme until age 10 when his parents, Charles A. Bielefeld and Margaret Leona Hood, moved their family to Dougherty where they farmed. 'Red' attended county school in Dougherty. He enlisted in the United States Navy in November of 1941, one of the greatest generation. He served as a cook and a second gunners mate on the destroyer USS Cummings in the South Pacific as well as the battleship USS Iowa. On his journey across the Pacific Ocean, 'Red' was known for feeding President Roosevelt's dog, Falah, during his tour, and he received a statue of Falah in appreciation. Bill was awarded with the following ribbons: the American Defense, American Theatre, Asiatic-Pacific 6 Stars, Philippine Liberation 1 star, and Victory. He returned home in March 1947.

Bill married Ada M. Hennigar on June 18, 1949, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockwell. They raised six children together: Margie Hughes, Kathy McLaughlin, Teri Jeffries, Jane Bielefeld, Bill Bielefeld and Marc Bielefeld. Bill was adamant about attending Sacred Heart and Holy Family Catholic Church with his family. Bill and Ada farmed in Dougherty until 1969. He drive semi for Stockberger Transfer and Storage of Mason City until retirement in 1988. The last ten years Bill attended his Navy reunions where he won several awards for having the most grandchildren. 'Red' found he had a talent with his hands carving beautiful lawn furniture and dressers for close friends and family. He found serenity in watching the birds. His greatest joy was the time spent with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 'Red' will always be remembered as a humble man with a big heart and the desire to put a smile on anyone's face.

Left to cherish and honor his memory is his life-long friend, Ada M. Hennigar; four daughters, Margie and her husband, Glen Hughes, of Dixon, Ill., and their daughter, Jennifer Hansen and her children, Joey, Josh, Hana, Melissa and Scott, Kathy and her husband, John McLaughlin, of Mason City, and their children, Katie and her daughter, Josie, Jessie and his wife, Adrienne, and their children, Taylor, Melonie and Danielle McLaughlin, Teri and her husband, Oliver Jeffries, of Osage, and their children, Tina and her husband, Tracy Thompson, and their children, Jade, Jakki, Jasmine, Zoey and Destiny, Pete Pattschull and his children, Chelsea, Jasmine and Gage, Angie Pattschull and her child, Alicia, Andrew and Phillip Pattschull, Andrea, Elyse and Ethan Jeffries, and Jane Bielefeld of Osage, and her children, Ryan Speakar and Jordan Bielefeld; two sons, Bill and his wife, Mary, of Lindstrom, Minn., and their children, Abe Sweeney, Jessica and Jamie Callison, Megan and Ashly Bielefeld, and Marc Bielefeld of Lindstrom, Minn., and his child, Justin; three brothers, Charles of Brainerd, Minn., Walter of Lime Springs, Minn., and Darl of Goodell, Iowa; and one sister, Patty Smith of Mason City. He has now joined his parents and sister, JoAnn Smith, with the Almighty Father.