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Submitted: 5/23/18 • Approved: 5/23/18 • Last Updated: 5/26/18 • R813265-G0-S3
GMM1 US NAVY
WORLD WAR II KOREA
Apr 14, 1925
Apr 15, 2018
William "Bill" Gerald Osterndorf, a resident of Willow Springs, passed away early Sunday morning while at Willow Care Nursing Home due to natural causes. Born April 14, 1925 to William F. and Katherine A. (Schultz) Osterndorf in Belmont, Wisconsin, he was 93 years old.
Bill grew up in Platteville, WI and attended the local schools and graduated from the Platteville High School in 1942. He also attended college in Butte, Montana where he studied geology. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church, and was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Willow Springs. Bill volunteered for the military in June, 1943 and proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy. He served on several ships, which included the USS Shenandoah, the USS Mexico Victory, and the USS Santa Isabel. He received the American Area Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Ribbon for his service and was honorably discharged in February, 1952. He was thrilled to be among the veterans who joined the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2012. He moved to the Ava area in 1952, where he taught school in a one-room schoolhouse in Wasola. He was then employed as a highway designer with MODOT for 32 years until his retirement in 1986. Bill was married to Pauline Johnson-Thompson in Miami, OK on December 31, 1975. One of Bill's favorite past-times was to join his friends at McDonald's for coffee. Bill was instrumental in helping found the Willow Springs Senior Center, where he loved to eat lunch and spend time visiting with friends. For the past two years, he would enjoy supper with two of his dearest friends, Ted Elmore and B.J. Shock. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, as well as all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Pauline and one brother.
Bill is survived by a sister, Joyce Austin, of Platteville, WI; a sister-in-law, Joan Osterndorf, also of Wisconsin, and his two dear friends, Ted Elmore and B.J. Shock of Willow Springs.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Willow Springs Senior Center building fund, and may be left at the funeral home.
A visitation for Bill will be held Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. at the Willow Funeral Home. Graveside services will immediately follow at the Willow Springs City Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements are under the direction of Willow Funeral Home. [willowspringsfuneralhome.com]
Contributed on 5/23/18 by mjrwag
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Record #: 813265