~ IN MEMORY ~
WWII veteran, RC (NWA) Capt. Robert Merle Westergard
May 22, 1921 - November 19, 2014
Notification with the passing of WWII veteran retired WI/NC/RC
(NWA) pilot Captain Robert M. Westergard, age 93. Following his military
service, Captain Westergard’s obituary reads: “Shortly after becoming a pilot
with Mid Continent Airlines, Bob joined Wisconsin Central Airlines on April 16,
1952, which later became North Central Airlines, then Republic Airlines, then
Northwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines today. Captain Westergard retired from
Republic Airlines on May 21, 1981.” Captain Westergard had most recently
resided at
402 N Hill St., La Crescent, MN 55947-1050 (507) 895-3513
To view/sign the online guestbook please visit the funeral
home website at http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2815685&fh_id=14573
Captain Westergard was widowed in May 2010 with the passing of
his wife Mary Irene neé Smith Westergard. He is survived by their children and
grand children. Perhaps the best contact for the family would be c/o daughter
Jane Diaz at 402 N Hill St., La Crescent, MN 55947-1050.
Services will be held for Captain Westergard on Wednesday,
Nov. 26th in La Crescent, Minnesota.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Memorial blogspot
http://pcnflightwest.blogspot.
Obituary..................................
Robert Merle Westergard, 93 of La Crescent, MN passed away at
his home on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 after a brief battle with cancer. He
was born in Brookings, SD on May 22, 1921 to Peter W. and Clara M. (Borstad)
Westergard. During his high school and college years in Brookings, he was an
accomplished athlete – captain of his basketball team, South Dakota state
champion swimmer, and won many medals in track. Bob began his career in aviation
when he obtained his pilot’s license in 1940. He joined the Marines in 1942 and
flew PV-1’s in the South Pacific with the First Marine Night Fighters Squadron
VMF(N)531 in World War II. Bob met Mary Irene Smith while he was a student at
South Dakota State University. Bob and Irene were married on August 14, 1943 in
Cherry Point, NC where Bob was stationed. Following the war, he returned to
civilian life, completed his education, and in 1946 he and Irene were the first
married couple to graduate from SDSU. Bob became a high school teacher for one
year and then deciding his future was in aviation, he returned to the Marine
Corps for a three-year tour of duty. Shortly after becoming a pilot with Mid
Continent Airlines, Bob joined Wisconsin Central Airlines on April 16, 1952,
which later became North Central Airlines, then Republic Airlines, then
Northwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines today. Captain Westergard retired from
Republic Airlines on May 21, 1981. Bob and Irene raised their children in
Bloomington, MN and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1977. In 2001 they moved to
La Crescent, MN to be closer to family. Throughout his life Bob enjoyed bird
hunting, golfing (2 handicap!), spending time with his family, and spending many
hours studying and investing in the stock market. Bob is survived by his four
daughters, Becky (Jack) Elder of Benicia, CA, Kathy (Greg) Schmoll of Sycamore,
IL, Jane Diaz (Joe Augustino) of La Crescent, and Stacy Dawson (Scott Minegar)
of La Crescent; thirteen grandchildren, Dustin (Ramona) Elder, Nathan (Kris)
Elder, Tara (Mark) Shamia, Sarah Schmoll (Jeremy Liebhaber), Mary (Matt) Hall,
Andy Schmoll (Colleen Edwards), Jack Schmoll, Tasha (Fred) McCormick, Corey
(Danielle) Diaz, Kendra Diaz, Cody Dawson, Rylee Dawson and Kennedie Dawson; and
seventeen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his
brother, Richard Westergard, a sister-in-law, Kay Westergard, his sister, Bonnie
Snyder, and a brother-in-law, Leon Snyder. Memorial services will be at 11:30
a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Prince of Peace Church, 21 N. Hill St., La Crescent,
MN with Pastor Mike Woods officiating. Friends and family may call on Wednesday
from 10:30 a.m. until the time the service. Military honors will follow the
service. Burial will be at a later date at Fort Snelling National
Cemetery.
--------------------------------
Mary Irene neé Smith Westergard
November 20, 1921 ~ May 29, 2010
Mary Irene (Smith) Westergard, 88, of La Crescent passed away
at her home on Saturday, May 29, 2010, after having a severe stroke. Irene was
born in Forest City, S.D., on Nov. 20, 1921, to Frank V. and Margie L. (Gates)
Smith.
She graduated from All Saints High School in Sioux Falls, S.D.
She continued her education at Grinnell College in Iowa.
On Aug. 14, 1943, Irene married Robert M. Westergard in
Raleigh, N.C. Robert was stationed in Cherry Point, N.C., where he was a Marine
night fighter pilot.
Irene graduated from South Dakota State University in 1946
with a degree in economics. Irene and Bob were the first married couple to
graduate from SDSU at the same time.
They raised their family in Bloomington, Minn., where Irene
was an avid golfer and bridge player, a Sunday school teacher at St. Nicholas
Episcopal Church, a member of AAUW, and worked for Cargill for a short time.
They moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1977, where Irene was an active docent at
the Scottsdale Center for the arts. In 2001, they moved to La Crescent.
Irene is survived by her husband, Bob; and four daughters,
Becky (Jack) Elder of Benicia, Calif., Kathy (Greg) Schmoll of Sycamore, Ill.,
Jane Diaz of Tampa, Fla., and Stacy Dawson of La Crescent; 13 grandchildren,
Dustin (Ramona) Elder, Nathan (Kris) Elder, Tara (Mark) Shamia, Sarah Schmoll,
Mary (Matt) Hall, Andy Schmoll, Jack Schmoll, Tasha (Fred) McCormick, Corey
Diaz, Kendra Diaz, Cody Dawson, Rylee Dawson and Kennedie Dawson; 10
great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Norma Smith.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Martin
Smith and Bob Smith; and a sister-in-law, Arlys Smith.
She will be dearly missed by her family, friends and
kitty.
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