Wilbur F. Reich

Wilbur F. Reich 91, Wausau, died peacefully surrounded by his family Tuesday, June 21, 2005, at Marywood Convalescent Center, Wausau. He was born March 24, 1914, in Wausau, son of the late Fred and Marie (Marquardt) Reich. On October 25, 1947, he married Ruth Maas in Wausau. She survives. Wilbur was in the Civil Conservation Corps and then entered the US Army Air Corps. He started his basic training in Tonopah, Arizona, continued his training at Aero Industry Technical Institute, Master Aircraft Mechanics Course, Conrad Sheet Metal Mechanics School all in California. Wilbur transferred to Leiston, England, and finished at the Rolls Royce School. He was a Private until April 1, 1943, Corporal until June 1, Sergeant until October 1, a Staff Sergeant, finishing as a Crew Chief for the P-51 Mustangs until being discharged. Besides being part of the famous 357th "Yoxford Boys" for which he received a Special Citation. A member of the 7th & 8th Army Air Force, he was in the "Battle of the Bulge" and "D-Day", receiving the Bronze Star. Wilbur is a life-long member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Burns Post No. 388, Wausau, and the "Greatest Generation". Besides being in the 357th "Yoxford Boys", he was mentioned in the books, "Mighty Eighth", "Mighty Eighth War Diary", and "Eighth Air Force & Air Fields: Then & Now" by Author Roger Freeman. The "357th 'Yoxford Boys'" also highlights Wilbur's service record. Wilbur worked for the Curtis Manufacturing Company, Wausau, and was a route salesman and delivered for Wausau Brewing Company, Rhinelander Distributing, Miller High Life, Wausau, and worked at CTL Janitorial Supplies until retiring at the age of 76. Besides being with family and friends, going up north, spending time with family pets, Wilbur enjoyed fishing, swimming, golfing, dartball, dancing, gardening, taking drives, eating ice cream and fixing anything. He was a member of the Wausau Jaycees, St. Anne's Dartball League and a Treasurer for Arbor Vitae Lake Association. Besides his wife, Ruth, Wausau, survivors include two daughters, Mary (Michael) Bower, Joyce, Washington, and Julia Barrington, Wausau; one sister, Arline Kotlewski, Wausau; one brother, Fred Reich, Boise, Idaho. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Margaret Yanke, Dorothy Reich, Florence Goetzke and Betty Keehnan. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 25, 2005, at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau. Father Steven Brice will officiate. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau, where full military honors will be conducted by the VFW. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. Saturday until the time of services at the Stewart Avenue funeral home. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com