left is a scan from a newspaper clipping, right from actual photo
1920 - 1990
1920 - 1990
2005 information
Velie entered the service on January 1, 1942, at Omaha, Nebraska, joining the United States Coast Guard (U.S.C.G) and served through July 19, 1945. His training was as a
general fireman and machinist mate duties, having completed 6 weeks in Machinist's Mate school.
He was stationed at these locations: Coast Guard
Receiving station, New York; Coast Guard base, Alameda; Coast Guard Replacement base, Ft. Lauderdale; and Coast Guard group, Miami, Florida.
He trained at Coast Guard Training Station (C.G.T.S.) in Manhattan Beach; Coast Guard training station, Alameda;
Coast Guard training station, Curtis Bay; and the Naval training station, Norfolk.
Velie served on the U.S.S. Samuel Chase, the U.S.S. Brownsville, USS Mintaka, and the San Francisco Lightship #83. From March 5, 1943, through
February 11, 1944, Velie was engaged in the European Theater and South Pacific, and received the Good Conduct Medal for his service. He returned to
United States on December 19, 1945, and was discharged at CGOB Coastguard Government Island, Alameda, California, on June 7, 1947, with the rank of Machinist's Mate 3rd Class,
having served 5 years, 5 months, and 28 days.
Wife --- Rita Saunders
Entered service: January 1, 1942
Branch of service: U.S.C.G.
Trained at C.G.T.S. in Manhattan Beach, on the U.S.S. Samuel Chase, the U.S.S. Brownville
& San Francisco Lightship #83.
Embarkation: September 23, 1942, March 5, 1943, February 11, 1944 & July 19, 1945
Engaged in European Theater & South Pacific
Awarded Good Conduct Medal
Returned to United States on December 19, 1945.
Discharged at C608, Cort Island, Alameda, California on June 7, 1947
Rank held: MM3C
Served 5 years and 6 months
BORN FEBRUARY 11, 1920 CRAWFORD COUNTY, IOWA
DIED FEBRUARY 27, 1990 CLARKSON HOSPITAL, OMAHA, NEBRASKA
AGE 70 YEARS AND 16 DAYS
SERVICES FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1990, 10:30 AM ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, MANNING
PASTOR ROBERT RIGGERT, OFFICIATING
MUSIC "I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES" "HOW GREAT THOU ART" "JESUS LIVES! THE VICTORY'S WON"
FERN JENSEN AND PAULA WEISS, ORGANISTS
INTERMENT MANNING CITY CEMETERY
CASKETBEARERS: MERLIN HASS, GARY SCHROEDER, ROLAND DERNER, DICK WEISS, CLIFF NELSON, GORDON SCHMARZO
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: RAY WITT, ROSS GRANER, JOHN WEIBLE, MILTON SINOW
MILITARY HONORS MANNING, IOWA
EMIL EWOLDT POST 22 OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 3517
THE FAMILY WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR KINDNESS EVIDENCED IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED, AND INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR LUNCH AND FELLOWSHIP AT THE CHURCH FOLLOWING THE COMMITTAL SERVICE.
Velie, son of Austin and Catherine Sowels Saunders, was born February 11, 1920 in Crawford County, Iowa. He attended Manilla schools and graduated in 1939.
Velie served five years in the United States Coast Guard.
June 25, 1950 he was united in marriage with Rita Nissen. Velie worked for Farmland
Foods in Denison from 1961 until his retirement in 1982. For the last seven years he
was custodian at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning.
Velie died Tuesday, February 27, 1990 at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha at the age of 70
years and 16 days.
He was preceded in death by his father, Austin; by his father-in-law, George Nissen; and
by a brother Howard.
Velie is survived by his wife, Rita, of Manning; by two children: Rebecca Kapfer and her husband, Mark, of Bettendorf, and Randy Saunders and his wife, Joni, of Breda; by his mother, Catherine Saunders, of Manilla; by his mother-in-law, Hilda Nissen, of Manning; by five granddaughters and one grandson; by the following brothers and sisters: James Saunders, of Dallas Texas; George Saunders, of Storm Lake; Harold Saunders, of Janesville; Gene Saunders, of Manilla; Virginia Jorgensen, of Storm Lake; and Ruth Sabel, of Storm Lake; by a sister-in-law, Emma Saunders, of Walnut, and by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.