- Name:William J Wahlers
Birth Year:1927
Race:White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country:Wisconsin
State of Residence:Wisconsin
Enlistment Date:23 Jun 1945
Enlistment State:Illinois
Enlistment City:Fort Sheridan
Branch:Air Corps
Branch Code:Air Corps
Grade:Private
Grade Code:Private
Term of Enlistment:Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component:Reserves - exclusive of Regular Army Reserve and Officers of the Officers Reserve Corps on active duty under the Thomason Act (Officers and Enlisted Men -- O.R.C. and E.R.C., and Nurses-Reserve Status)
Source:Enlisted Reserve or Medical Administrative Corps (MAC) Officer
Education:4 years of high school
Marital Status:Single, without dependents
Height:00
Weight:000
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- William "Bill" J. Wahlers, Kaukauna, age 84, passed away peacefully into eternal glory on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 with his family at his side. Bill was born March 7, 1927 to the late Elmer and Helen (Rhode) Wahlers. He was a lifelong resident of Kaukauna. On August 5, 1950 he married "the neighbor" girl Lois Schubring at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kaukauna. In October 1944, he joined the Army Air Corp with the stipulation that he not be called to duty until his high school graduation in June, 1945. He served on the island of Guam as a crytoptographer. After returning from the service he apprenticed as a mason. He became proficient as a stonemason, bricklayer, block layer, plasterer, cement mason and refractor mason. He designed and built their home in Kaukauna in 1956. With this experience he became the fix it man of the family. He would say he was a jack-of-all trades master of none. His family would say he was a jack-of-all trades master of many. There was not much he could not fix or build. He was constantly looking for the simplest yet most elegant solution to any problem. Bill was a loving care giver to his wife Lois, who was diagnosed with Lupus during her 30's. He very much enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, spending time at his cabin on Enterprise Lake and spending time with his children and grandchildren. His family appreciated his catching fish on Enterprise Lake so they could enjoy a Friday night fish fry when they arrived "up north." Once we "invented" our croquet golf game at the cottage, Bill built special mallets with deerskin grips (from a deer he caught while fishing …that is a whole story in itself). Bill also liked to cook. Even after Lois' death he would prepare himself wonderful meals. One thing he was noted for, and Lois when she was alive, was the huge batch of "party mix" he would make each year for the holidays. It was a recipe passed on from a prior generation. No other party mix comes close to the taste he created through years of tinkering with the recipe. One of the life lessons he passed on to his children and grandchildren was to use your common sense. Too often he felt people either over thought things or just did not apply simple common sense to the solution. Perhaps our world could use more of that common sense today.
Bill is survived by his two children: son Tim (Kathy) Wahlers, Eden Prairie, MN and daughter, Polly (Tim) Lehman, Neenah; grandchildren: Shelby (Austin) Matthews, Greenville; Chelsea (Taylor) Bentz, Omaha, NE; William and Jack Wahlers, Eden Prairie, MN.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, a baby daughter, parents Helen and Elmer Wahlers, brother Jim and in-laws, Hertha and Otto Schubring.
The Christian funeral for Bill will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday January, 14, 2012 at TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 804 Grignon Street, Kaukauna. Visitation will take place from 9-11 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers donations will be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. Boettcher Family Funeral Home, Kaukauna is assisting the family. 766-2099 www.boettcherfamilyfuneral.com
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the many doctors and nurses, who cared for Bill over the past three weeks, especially those at Theda Clark on the fifth floor, the Pine Creek wing at Peabody Manor and the ThedaCare Hospice Residence. Special thanks to doctors Ferrante, Beck and Onunkwo. Your efforts, care and compassion are greatly appreciated.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on January 12, 2012
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1927 - 2012 (84 years)
Education - High School
