William Strong

William A. Strong, Jr., age 95, of Willmar, died Friday afternoon, April 20th, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

A memorial service will be held at 11 A.M., Saturday, April 28th, at Willmar United Methodist Church. Friends may call one hour prior to the services at the church. The inurnment will be in Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery in Willmar. Military Honors will be provided by Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post #163 of Willmar. Memorials are preferred to the Willmar United Methodist Church Youth Programs. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. (www.petersonbrothers.com).

William Arnold Strong, Jr. was born on April 25, 1916 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the oldest son of Gertrude (Gunderson) and William A. Strong. He grew up in Sioux City, Iowa and received his education there. He was employed at Wind Charger Electronics in Sioux City. On September 3, 1940, he was married to Doris Elizabeth Koch in Worthington, Minnesota and they made their home in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1942, Bill joined the U.S. Naval Reserve and went to Livermore, California for training. He served as Motor Machinist Second Class with the Seabee's (construction battalion) building air strips on captured islands in the South Pacific so fighters and bombers could carry in men and supplies. After WW II, Bill returned home and returned to his old job producing wind generators for farms. He later went to work for the post office sorting mail at the main terminal. Bill started working for the trains with Railroad Post Office sorting and collecting mail for towns along the railway. In 1955, they moved to Minnesota when Bill transferred to the Willmar Post Office as a railroad en route sorter. He transferred to the Highway Post Office sorting mail on a bus between Willmar and Canada. Later he worked in the Willmar Post Office and retired as Supervisor of Mail. During his time in theWillmar Post Office, he organized 90 post offices into sectional post office based out of Willmar. He also had been chosen to serve on a Survey Team to find fault, to improve service and reduced costs up to 50 percent.

He lived a long, full, quality life and was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to his family and friends. He enjoyed the many visits and times with them. Before going in the Navy, Bill was a taxidermist and hunted waterfowl on the Missouri River. He received his private pilot's license after being in the service. There was always much to talk about with the many fishing, camping, sewing, kite making, boat building, cabinet building, duck decoy carving and painting, cooking and baking, green thumb gardening, bird feeding, and his interests in ham radio (WAOBKA), computers and electronics. He kept in touch with surviving WW II veterans via email and took his turn compiling their Old China hands newsletter for personnel that served in China, Burma, and India during WW II. He also befriended food writer and newspaper columnist, Sue Doeden and demonstrated making crullers in his home for her video and All About Food blog use. He was a unique, inspiring and courageous person and will be missed by all.

He is survived by two sons: Wayne (and Linda) Strong of Almelund and William Strong of Baltimore, Maryland; and three daughters: Karen (and David) Koenen of Miltona, Sherry (and DeWayne) Toutges of Sunburg and Cindy Johnson of Willmar. Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Jenifer Strong, Aaron Strong, Jason (and Jessica) Strong, Shelly Koenen, Cameron Koenen, Jesse Toutges, April (and Shane) Jones, Daniel Johnson and Kevin Johnson; nine great-grandchildren: Rachel, Jessica and Hannah Strong, Mason and Kaden Toutges, Ariana Fucini and Saunder, Avery and Asher Strong; a brother: Darrell Strong of Sioux City, Iowa; four sisters-in-law: Marie Goettsch, Wilma Schoen, Evelyn Helgerson and Loretta (and Bud) Muecke; and many nieces and nephews; besides other relatives and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, wife (Doris in 1993) and one brother (George Strong).