Donald C. Wunsch

Donald C. Wunsch, 93, Wausau, died Thursday, January 8, 2015 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. He was born September 8, 1921 in Auburndale, son of the late Joseph and Fern (Bever) Wunsch. He lived in cheese factories in West Auburndale, Unity and March Rapids, before moving to Marshfield. Don had attended a country school for 2-3 years before he went to St. John's Catholic School and then on to McKinley High School which burned in 1936. He graduated from the Purdy Jr. High School in 1939. He worked making ice cream for Wunsch's Ice Cream until August of 1942, when he went into the Army. He took his basic training at Camp Wheeler in Macon, Ga., and stayed there about one year as an instructor after making Corporal. In 1943, he went to Camp Blanding, Starke, Fla., where he became a Sargent. In October of 1944, Don was sent to Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, Miss., to the 65th Infantry Division Company C 260th. In December of 1944, he went to New York City and then shipped out for La Harve, France (Camp Lucky Strike) under Patton's Third Army. He went into action at the Siegfried Line in Saarlauten, Germany. Don was there on VE Day, May 9, 1945. They became an Army of Occupation in Linz, Austria. In March of 1946, they left for home on a ship out of Bremerhaven, bound for New York. It took 11 days to get back to the United States, arriving on March 16, 1946. Don went to Camp McCoy and then hitchhiked home. He was honorably discharged on March 23, 1946. He was a life member of the American Legion Montgomery Plant Post No. 10, Wausau and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Burns Post No. 388, Wausau. Following his discharge from the military, Don became an ice cream maker for Parkin Ice Cream. On May 21, 1949, he married Virginia Alf at St. John's Catholic Church, Marshfield. They met on a blind date through her sister and her friend. Together, they moved to Wausau and Don began working for Bridgeman Russell, Supreme Dairy and Wausau Daily Record Herald, until taking a job with the Wausau School District. Don enjoyed early morning walks, keeping his car clean and shiny and his yard nice and green. He and his wife, Virginia, went on many bus tours across the U.S., also to Hawaii, a Caribbean cruise and followed his army reunions after his retirement in 1985. Don was an avid Milwaukee Brewers fan and Green Bay Packers fan. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Virginia Wunsch, Wausau; four children, Richard Wunsch, Wausau, Dennis (Jeanne) Wunsch, Wausau, Timothy (Kathy) Wunsch, Weston, and Cheryl (Jerry) Duberstein, Mosinee; six grandchildren, Eric (Cyndy) Wunsch, Oklahoma, Brian (Deanna) Wunsch, Neenah, Aaron Wunsch, Weston, Kaitlyn (Casey) Krohn, West Bend, Hannah Wunsch, Wausau and Mollie (Cody) Augustine, Wausau; four great-grandchildren, Taylen and Easton Augustine and Imogene and Truman Wunsch; two brothers-in-law, Alfred (Evelyn) Alf of Naples, Fla. And Dennis Flom, Minneapolis, Minn.; two sisters-in-law, Carita Kelleher, Winterset, Iowa, Kathleen Pribnow, Marshfield; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Francis and Melvin; and one nephew, Gary Wunsch. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2015 at The Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Wausau. Rev. William Grevatch will preside. Entombment will be in the Garden of Eternal Rest Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau, with full military honors conducted by the American Legion, Wausau. Friends may call on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com