Willis Lohmeier

February 28, 1952
Manning Monitor

Two sailors from the corn-fed town of Manning, Iowa met at Yokosuka, Japan the 11th of February 1952. They were Willie Lohmeier and Louis Schwiesow, school chums and life-long buddies from the Corn State. This marks the fourth time they have met since serving with Uncle Sam's Navy.

ENLISTS IN AIR FORCE
Willis "Whitey" Lohmeier, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lohmeier of Manning, has been discharged from the navy after nine years of duty. He has enlisted in the Air Force and will be stationed at Offutt AFB in Omaha.
Carroll Daily Times Herald, August 31, 1957

In Memory of Willis Lohmeier

Visitation Friday, September 19, 2008, 5 - 8 p.m.
Prayer Service 7:30 p.m. Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home Des Moines
Funeral Service Saturday, September 20, 2008, 10:30 am Holy Cross Lutheran Church Carlisle, Iowa
Graveside Service and Interment with military honors... Saturday, September 20, 2008, 2:30 pm Manning American Legion and VFW. Manning Cemetery at Manning

A son of Henry and Minnie (Rostermundt) Lohmeier, he was born August 16, 1929, in Manning. Willis graduated from Manning High School in 1948 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the submarine service during the Korean War. He and Marilyn Sonksen were married August 12, 1962, at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. After nine years in the Navy, he enlisted in the Air Force and retired in 1971 as a Technical Sergeant. His career included boxing in high school and during his military service. In 1992 he retired from the Post Office in Des Moines.

Willis was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Des Moines for 41 years and recently transferred to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Carlisle. He had been a resident of Carlisle Care Center since February 2008. Whitey died September 16, 2008, at Taylor Hospice House in Des Moines.

He was also a member of the VFW in Manning. His life's interest included gardening, fishing and playing cards with his grandchildren. Willis will be remembered for his humor.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Henry and Minnie; three brothers, Ray, Amos, and Alvin Lohmeier; and two sisters, Velma Weber and Bernice Hobbs.

Willis is survived by his wife Marilyn of Des Moines and daughters Nancy (Jeff) Allison of Roland, Arkansas, and Lori (Giovanni) Leo of Des Moines; grandchildren Anthony, Adriano, Alessandra and Annamaria Leo and Jeni and Sarah Allison; sisters Ruby Rose of Anoka, Minnesota, and La Vonne Watters of Lake City; and many nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers will be Dan Lohmeier, Jerry Lohmeier, Giovanni "John" Leo, Jeff Allison, Alan Atwell and Harry Trowbridge. Honorary casket bearers will be LeRoy Albertsen, Anthony Leo, Randy Lohmeier, Mark Rose, Mike Rose and Phil Hunt.

Memorial contribution may be given to Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The family greatly extends appreciation to Taylor Hospice House, the VA Hospital and Rev. Johnson.