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. ************************************************** Copyright © 2009 by Don West. All rights reserved. http://www.iagenweb.org/state/disclaim.htm **************************************************