Family Group Record of John William WEST

Submitted by Don West Dewewest@msn.com

Husband: John William WEST
Birth: 18 Sep 1907    
Place: Paris, Monroe Co, MO                    
Military: bet 1941-1945  Camp McCoy, WI                          
Death: 15 May 1992  
Place: Iowa City, Johnson County, IA           
Burial: 17 May 1992
Place: West Branch Cem, West Branch, Cedar CO, IA 
                                
Marriage: 27 Oct 1946    
Place: West Branch, Cedar CO, IA               
      

Wife: Margaret WERTZBAUGHER
Birth: 20 Mar 1904   
Place: On a farm  1 1/2 Miles North East of West Branch, IA
Death: 26 Nov 1977  
Place: Cedar Rapids, Linn CO, IA               
Burial: 28 Nov 1977   
Place: West Branch Cem, West Branch, Cedar CO, IA
Father: John WERTZBAUGHER
Mother: 

FAMILY NOTES

John William WEST
Military: HQ13 CDV Rcon Sq (MEC2)
Inducted: Fort Des Moines, IA
Discharged: Camp McCoy, WI
Rank: Technical Fifth Grade
Decorations: WWII Victory Medal
WWII Lapel Button
Good Conduct Medal
American Defence Service Medal


Death(1): John WILLIAM WEST (SEPT 18, 1907-MAY 15, 1992)
Funeral services were held at the Friends Church in West Branch on Tuesday May 
19, 1992 at 2:00 PM. Conducted by Pastor Debra Suess, Organist Mrs Helen 
Millett, pallbears were Jim West, Clifford Murphy, Howard Hartsock, Joe West, 
Paul Westfall and John Werzbaugher. Internment, West Branch Cemetery. Military 
Honors by the West Branch American Legion. Barker Funeral Home was in charge

General: Uncle John was born in Monroe CO, MO and came to IA with Grama and Grampa 
West when they settled in West Branch in 1908. After he finished school he went 
to work for the Werzbaurghers on the farm and there he met Margaret. She 
graduated from the University of Iowa and became the librarian at the West 
Branch Library. The library was located next to Grama and Grampa West's house 
on Main St in West Branch. The library backyard was the favorite place for the 
West family pictures for weddings, funerals, Thanksgiving, Christmas, family 
reunions or whatever.  Uncle John and Aunt Margaret began a life long romance.  
Both were very quiet, hard working people, devoted to each other.  

At the start of World War II, Uncle John was drafted and sent to Camp Polk, LA for basic 
training. Because of his work on the farm and his familiarity with handling and caring 
for horses, he was assigned to the Army cavalry. The Army realized that mounted cavalry 
soldiers were no longer required in modern warfare so Uncle John's outfit was converted 
and became the mechanized cavalry equipped with tanks. They were shipped overseas and 
entered the war in North Africa. He did not talk much about his war experiences. He went 
through battles in Italy and fought in the battle of the Bulge. Somewhere along the 
way he was wounded and was awarded the Purple Heart and other Military decorations. 
Cousin Jack Vincent has mounted his metals for display on the wall.  

After the war Uncle John and Margaret picked up where they had left off and were married 
27 Oct 1946 and moved to a farm about nine miles Southwest of Iowa City located on Highway 1 
between Iowa City and Kalona. They subsequently purchased the farm and lived there until 
Margaret's death. Here they worked together and became active and well liked in the 
surrounding community. Aunt Margaret passed away in 1977. Uncle John continued to farm 
awhile but finally retired and moved to Kalona and then to West Branch to be near sister
Roberta and family. He and Aunt Margaret were very successful at farming. They did not 
have any children of their own so they decided when Uncle John passed away in 1992, to 
share the fruits of their labor with nieces and nephews. Uncle John and Aunt Margaret 
are buried at the West Branch Cemetery overlooking the town where their courtship began 
and where we have shared in many very happy memories.

Was a member of the WAPSINONOC Masonic LodgeAM & FM No 381, West Branch, Iowa. Was initiated 
Mar. 14, 1946 : Passed Apr 11, 1846 and Raised May 2, 1946


WIFE NOTES: Margaret WERTZBAUGHER
She graduated from WEST BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL in 1922 and from the UNIVERSITY OF IOWA in 1929. 
She served many years as the librarian at Enloe Library in West Branch. She passed away 
about 4:30 PM at MERCY HOSP. IOWA CITY. She was a member of the United Methodist Church 
in West Branch and Juanita Chapter of the Eastern Star.


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