Niwot Community Association &
Niwot Business Association
Veterans Day Banner Project
October – November 2023
The NCA and NBA are proud to honor American Veterans through the fifth annual Niwot Veterans Banner project. From October to November banners will be displayed in downtown Niwot and will include a photo, branch of service, rank, and years of service.
Below is a list of the veterans honored and where their banner is on display in Niwot. Click on each veteran name, or scroll further down this page, to read short biographies on each hero.
On November 11th at 11am outside the Left Hand Grange (195 2nd Ave) there will be a ceremony honoring all our veterans and those that made this project possible.
Download the map to view where each banner is located:
Veterans Banner Map
| Veteran | Lamppost |
|---|---|
| Burton Gale Bergeson |
Second Ave #5 |
| Ernest E. Blondeau |
Second Ave #23 |
| William Bowman |
Second Ave #24 |
| Helen Bulovsky |
Cottonwood Square #7 |
| Myron Dewey Chace |
Cottonwood Square #4 |
| Durrell Conner |
Second Ave #8 |
| George Copperberg |
Cottonwood Square #27 |
| Ivan Henry “Bill” Dart |
Cottonwood Square #19 |
| Otwell Derr |
Second Ave #18 |
| Thomas Doering |
Cottonwood Square #25 |
| Henry Bailey Doll |
Cottonwood Square #22 |
| Henry Clay Doll |
Cottonwood Square #21 |
| Robert Doll |
Second Ave #13 |
| Laura Strecker Gastelum |
Cottonwood Square #2 |
| Edward Gostling |
Cottonwood Square #20 |
| Sarah Strecker Hermida |
Cottonwood Square #3 |
| William Hester |
Second Ave #19 |
| John W. “Jack” Hinkelman, Jr. |
Cottonwood Square #10 |
| Julie Strecker Hoxha |
Cottonwood Square #1 |
| Owen Irby |
Second Ave #22 |
| Lance Kalahar |
Cottonwood Square #11 |
| Mary & Bill Kistler |
Second Ave – #12 |
| William Knutsen |
Cottonwood Square #18 |
| Herman T. Krol |
Second Ave #26 |
| Ray Larsen |
Cottonwood Square #16 |
| Thomas J. Lawhead |
Cottonwood Square #6 |
| Richard Lloyd |
Cottonwood Square #17 |
| Alex Luker |
Cottonwood Square #12 |
| Leon V Mason |
Second Ave #3 |
| Jacqueline Melvin |
Second Ave #16 |
| Martin J. Melvin Jr. |
Second Ave #17 |
| Charles Misura |
Cottonwood Square #23 |
| Charles A. Monroe Jr. |
Second Ave #15 |
| Kenneth Musselman |
Second Ave #9 |
| Clarence A Nelsen |
Second Ave #25 |
| Edward A Nowak |
Second Ave #14 |
| Joseph O’Connell Jr. |
Cottonwood Square #9 |
| Terrence J O’Neill |
Second Ave #27 |
| Richard Piland |
Second Ave #11 |
| Charles Edward Quinn |
Cottonwood Square #13 |
| Theodore Plese |
Cottonwood Square #24 |
| Eugene L Ray |
Second Ave #4 |
| Donald Max Sartori |
Second Ave #21 |
| James Schaefer |
Second Ave #2 |
| Gismonde A Silvestrone |
Second Ave #6 |
| John “Jack” Sullivan |
Cottonwood Square #5 |
| Andrew Tubach |
Second Ave #10 |
| Lindsay Copperberg Underwood |
Cottonwood Square #26 |
| Franklin C Wright |
Cottonwood Square #14 |
| James Albert Zander |
Second Ave #7 |
Biographies
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Burton Gale Bergeson
Sponsor: Eric Bergeson
Banner location:
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Burton Gale Bergeson is the uncle I never met, but heard much about from my father, his youngest brother. Burton was born on June 3, 1922, to Reno and Annie Bergeson in Lake Park, Minnesota. Burton was the oldest of 5 siblings and joined the Merchant Marines in 1940 at the age of 18. He held the rank of Merchant Seaman and the specialty position of Deck Cadet.
In September of 1942, his ship, the U.S.S. Winthrop, was last in line in a convoy carrying critical supplies through the North Sea when the ship was hit by a torpedo from a German u-boat and sank. As was general and necessary practice, the convoy continued on to complete its mission. Burton was declared missing and dead on September 24, 1942.
My father often told the story of having my grandfather pick him up early from school to assemble the family and break the news. The grief and pride was still palpable when my father would describe that day and the impact on the family. One of so many incredible sacrifices made by so many American families.
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Ernest “Gene” Blondeau
Sponsor: Randall Blondeau
Banner location:
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Gene was born in Houston, Texas in 1930. He was attracted to flying at an early age when he visited his Aunt and Uncle in Texas as a young teenager. His uncle gave him his first taste of what it felt like to fly when he worked at the local airfield for the summer. While he was always attracted to logical pursuits, the real joy in his life became flying an airplane. In the midst of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Arkansas, he joined the Air Force as the youngest recruit in the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Fighter Squadron. He was able to complete his bachelor’s degree before basic and reconnaissance fighter pilot training in the Air Force began. His call sign was “Junior” both for his age and actual name. He flew the RF-84F Thunderflash and had many stories about his Air Force experiences in the mid 1950’s. He looked forward to meeting up with his squadron for reunions all over the country for the rest of his life. He continued in the Air Force as a reserve pilot for over a decade after he left regular active duty. He picked up his intellectual pursuits again after his time in the Air Force. He earned a master’s degree in Physics from the University of Wisconsin, and both a master’s and PhD in Mathematics from Oklahoma State University. While pursuing these degrees he found the time to meet the love of his life. Together, they raised four children and were married 58 years before Gene passed away at the age of 87.
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William Bowman
Sponsor: Cornelia Sawle
Banner location:
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William Bowman was born on a farm in Burlington, Indiana where he spent his childhood. He was quite athletic and was known for his basketball skills.
In World War II, he flew the “Hump”, the Himalayan Mountains, carrying supplies from India to China. This was extremely dangerous and made more difficult by a lack of reliable charts and an absence of radio navigation aids. When fully loaded, Douglas DC-3s could not climb high enough to clear all the peaks and were forced to weave a perilous path through the mountains, a task that was virtually impossible when the treacherous Himalayan weather closed in. Turbulence could force a plane to drop thousands of feet in mere seconds. He didn’t talk about his war days until near the end of his life when he described some of the Himalayan storms he had flown through. He was amazed his plane had stayed aloft during those flights.
After the war, he moved to Chicago and married Carolyn Doane and had three daughters. He joined his father-in-law’s family business, Cheshire, which designed and built machines that made address labels for magazine subscriptions at a time when Time, Life, and many other magazines were in their heyday.
In 1967, when he retired, William built a house in Dillon, Colorado where he and his family started spending much of their time there.
Eventually, William and his wife moved to Carefree, Arizona where his children and 9 grandkids often visited him. He lived to the age of 93 and was much loved by all.
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Helen Bulovsky
Sponsor: Mary Claire Collins
Banner location:
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Helen Bulovsky was born in Madison, Wisconsin on April 6, 1895. She graduated from Madison General Hospital Nurses Training in October 1917 and was inspired to join the Army Nurse Corps as the United States had entered WWI just six months earlier.
She was assigned to U.S. Army Base Hospital 22 located near Bordeaux, France but spent most of her time in tented field and evacuation hospitals close behind the front line in France and Belgium. Helen served from April 3, 1918 to April 12, 1919 and was in Europe from June 3, 1918 to March 5, 1919. She cared for the wounded, assisted in surgery standing in the ever present, ankle-deep mud, hungered for hot food and searched for drinkable water. Although homesick and lonesome she remained committed to “sacrifice anything to help the boys” so horribly wounded and incredibly brave.
Helen received a WWI Victory Medal and was recognized for her participation in these major battle grounds:
– Aisne-Marne
– Ypres-Lys
– Meuse-Argonne
Helen returned to Madison a hometown hero and died 4 years later of heart failure at the age of 27. She was buried with full military honors. From her obituary in the Madison Capital Times, “Miss Bulovsky was one of those rare souls who radiated cheerfulness and happiness wherever she appeared.”
Banner sponsored by her nieces Brooke Bulovsky Cameron and Janice Collins
and her great niece, Mary Claire Collins
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Myron Dewey Chace
Sponsor: Diane & Bob
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Myron was a Radio Technician in the Navy at the age of 20 during World War I. After graduating from Worchester Polytechinical Institute in 1921 he began his career at AT&T as an Electrical Engineer. Myron paused his professional life to rejoined the military and serve during World War II – this time in the Army Signal Corps. His tours took him to New Guinea and the Philippines, eventually ending up in General MacArthur’s Pacific Headquarters. He received the Philippine Liberation ribbon for his efforts. He retired from military service with the rank of Colonel.
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Durrell Conner
Sponsor: Leslie Kaczeus
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Durrell was born in 1918 in Tucumcari NM and moved with his family to California at the age of 4. Two years after graduation, he joined the United States Navy. He completed basic training in San Diego and was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On Dec. 7, 1941, Durrell was aboard the battleship U.S.S. California when the attack on the United States occurred. Fortunately, he suffered no injuries, but lost many of his shipmates that day. He was later assigned to several stations around the world including Japan, Guam and Washington D.C. After retiring in 1962, he and his wife Mahala (Kay) moved to Whitethorn California where they lived on the Mattole River.
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George C. Copperberg
Sponsor: The Copperberg Family
Banner location:
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George C. Copperberg was born in Buffalo, New York on May 20, 1922 and graduated from high school in 1940. After graduation, he worked in the manufacture of transportation equipment until his enlistment in the US Army.
George enlisted in the United States Army on October 19, 1942, following in the footsteps of his father who served in the US Army during World War I. On his completion of basic training, he was assigned to The Ordnance Replacement Training Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. From there, he shipped out and was assigned to the Chinese Combat Command (Provisional) serving in the China/Burma/India Theater. The mission of the Chinese Combat Command was to advise and to assist the staffs of the Chinese military units for execution of tactical operations.
In the summer of 1945 he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service during the West Hunan campaign. Following the conclusion of WW II, George returned home to Buffalo, New York where he married and had two children, Charles and Joyce Copperberg. Charles is the sponsor for this banner and has lived in Niwot, Colorado since 1993. Charles’ daughter, Lindsay Copperberg Underwood (Niwot HS 2001) served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant Commander/helicopter and test pilot until 2017. She is currently serving as a flight test director for the Department of Defense.
Thanks Dad for your service!
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Ivan Henry “Bill” Dart
Sponsor: Karen Knutsen Quinn
Banner location:
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Ivan, or Bill as all his friends called him, was born in Litchfield, Minnesota on December 5, 1897 and died in Minnetonka, Minnesota on January 26, 1977. To me he was Grandpa. He was as close as a father to me, as he and my Grandmother raised me and my siblings after our parent’s death when we were all young.
Grandpa was a Corporal in the Medical Corp during WWI, but like so many veterans he didn’t like to talk about his war experiences. However, we all learned a lot about his time in France from a war album that he created with amazing photographs, letters he had written home to his parents, photos from captured German soldiers, postcards and more. Photos included French children sitting in the woods watching practice shell fire, pictures of direct hits on the Rheims Cathedral, captured German tanks and prisoners and many more incredible images of the war and its devastation. One series of five photos showed, “The supposedly innocent throwing of hand grenades which caused the explosion of this ammunition dump and almost wrecked President Wilson’s Private car.” Written in his own handwriting, it goes on to say the incident happened North of Soissons on March 23, 1919 and “had the President and his party arrived a moment sooner their car would have gone with the ammo dump!” There are three photos of the ammunition dump explosion and two pictures of President Wilson in his car along with his entourage. One 8×10 photo, dated 11-11-19, shows the Generals of the Allied Armies lined up in full uniforms at a ceremony surrounded by dignitaries, presumably associated with the signing of the Armistice ending WWI.
There was also one particularly touching letter he wrote about a dear childhood friend who was killed in France at the famous battle of Belleau Woods. At the age of twenty, the two friends had been amongst the first to enlist. Grandpa wrote the letter to his friend’s parents all about the circumstance of their son’s death and what a hero he was. The letter was printed in the Litchfield newspaper. It speaks of Grandpa’s compassion, caring and deep bond with his lifelong buddy and the gift he gave his friend’s family and whole community who knew and loved this brave soldier.
Bill grew up in Litchfield, Minnesota and was a very talented athlete. He competed in each of the sports the school offered because they were a small rural school. His Senior year of high school, Bill was the captain of both the basketball and football teams and Litchfield soundly defeated all of their opponents.
Bill loved the outdoors and did a lot of hunting and fishing throughout his life. He instilled that love in his children and grandchildren, too. He won many trophies for trap shooting. He worked for Brown and Bigelow, Remembrance Advertising in the Twin Cities for 35 years and retired as their General Sales Manager after a very successful career.
Grandpa was my hero. He was one of the kindest men I have ever known, patient, generous and thoughtful. He was a quiet, soft spoken man but when he spoke, we listened. I will always be grateful to my Grandfather for raising me and my siblings and giving us a home filled with his love and the good values he instilled in each of us.
I have a deep respect and admiration for all the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in our military, as well as for their families who support and care for each other in the absence of their loved ones. Please know you are appreciated beyond what any of us could ever express.
Respectfully submitted by,
Karen Knutsen Quinn
Niwot, Colorado…. in honor of my Grandpa (Ivan Henry Dart) on Veterans Day 2020
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Otwell Derr
Sponsor: Lynda & Greg Dunnell
Banner location:Second Ave #18 |
As a high school senior, Otwell joined the Naval Reserves in 1955. As a reservist, he took basic training at Great Lakes Training Center and Fresh Water Cruise aboard a Destroyer Escort, out of Milwaukie, WI.
In September 1955 Otwell signed up for three years of active duty. He was assigned to Great Lakes Training Center for basic training. He took additional training at the Naval Airman school in Norman, OK and at Aerographer’s Mate school, Lakehurst, NJ.
Otwell was assigned to Fleet Weather Central, at the Naval Airbase in Port Lyautey, Morocco from May 1956 to January 1958. Using Rawinsonde balloon ascensions he gathered upper atmospheric data used in high altitude flights and long-range weather forecasting. During the International Geographic Year, he participated in setting a world record with one ascension reaching over 154,600 feet. That record fell later in the same year, when a hydrogen filled balloon exceed the helium filled balloon used by the Navy.
In January 1958 he was assigned duty aboard the USS Taconic, AGC-17, a communications ship and was the lead weather petty officer aboard. The Taconic sailed into the Mediterranean Sea and was the command ship for the sixth fleet’s invasion during the Lebanese Crisis in July-August 1958. The U.S. sent the Marines ashore to secure the Beirut International Airport and quell an attempted regime change.
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Thomas Doering
Sponsor: Linda Vehrenkamp
Banner location:Cottonwood Square #25 |
Tom Doering was born in 1925 in Viroqua, WI. He was drafted at 18, but at 135 pounds “soaking wet with his clothes on” he was sent home from examinations to gain weight! He was anxious to serve in the War and responded to the request for volunteers to join the Merchant Marines. He and two lifelong friends took off on the first of several storied cross-country hitchhiking trips to report for duty at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. Over the next two years he sailed on a variety of hospital ships and decommissioned luxury liners converted to troop carriers. He made several trips transporting troops, officers, wounded soldiers, supplies, and equipment. He sailed the Atlantic to ports in France, and the Pacific to ports in the Philippines, Okinawa, Manila, Naha, Honolulu, and through the Panama Canal. He returned to La Crosse and married Ardelle, his partner in life and all their adventures for 64 years. He loved parades and was the leader of the band around the house and yard for his four children and seven grandchildren. He visited his daughter Linda and her family in Niwot many times, and he never missed a parade! He always considered himself a lucky man.
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Henry Bailey Doll
Sponsor: Kathy Koehler
Banner location:
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In 1900 a crisis erupted in China as the “Boxers” increased their resistance to foreign influence and presence. By the end of the nineteenth century, several countries had already established spheres of influence in China. In the fall of 1899, Secretary of State John Hay wrote that the United States, a late arrival, wanted to maintain an “open door policy” in China. If the Boxers succeeded in pushing the United States and other foreign countries out, this newly opened door could soon be shut. On May 31 1900, Capt. John T. Myers, USMC, arrived in Peking along with approximately 350 foreign sailors and marines who were sent to protect their respective legations.
After serving in the Boxer Rebellion, Henry Bailey Doll, age 21, moved to Denver, Colorado to live with his parents and attend college for an engineering degree. He was a lead contract construction engineer on the Barker Dam in Nederland. After marrying in 1911, he and his family moved around the US on construction contracted jobs. He and his family returned to Boulder and lived at 1324 Pine Street. Henry passed away in 1957 at age 78.
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Henry Clay Doll
Sponsor: Kathy Koehler
Banner location:
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Mr. Doll was born in 1838 in Pennsylvania. After the Civil War, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and married Catherine Bushnell Geisy. The couple moved to Denver, Colorado where he became a partner and served as secretary and treasurer for the Robertson & Doll Carriage Company which was incorporated in 1882 The building on Arapahoe Street at the corner of Fourteenth still remains today. Henry and Catherine had five children. Henry passed away in 1927 at age 89 in Denver.
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Robert Doll
Sponsor: Kathy Koehler
Banner location:
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Bob Doll is a member of a Boulder County pioneer family and was born in Colorado in 1919. One of his grandfathers fought in the Civil War and his father was called to serve in the China Rebellion in the early 1900s.
As a sophomore at the University of Colorado, Bob played center and led the CU men’s basketball team to the 1940 title in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in New York City, where he was selected as the NIT Most Valuable Player in leading the Buffaloes to wins over DePaul and Duquesne; he was the tournament’s leading scorer with 31 points. CU was the champion of the Mountain States Conference two of his three seasons, with a 43-12 record (29-7 in league play and 21-1 at home).
The 6-foot-5-inch Doll became known for his aggressive defense as he was named a unanimous first-team All-Mountain State Conference player as a senior, when he was also CU’s second All-American in the sport, joining one-time teammate Jack Harvey.
This year, the CU Athletic Hall of Fame will induct twelve into the 18th class. Bob is one of the inductees into the HOF and he will also be inducted into the Legacy Wing.
After serving in World War II (Navy branch, in the Pacific region) he returned to Colorado and became CU’s first alum to play professional basketball, for the St. Louis Bombers and Boston Celtics of the Basketball Association of America (later rebranded as the NBA), with a brief stop in-between for the original Denver Nuggets.
In his business career, Bob was a regional representative of a national pharmaceutical company and drove throughout the Rocky Mountain region for client meetings. Later he was a photoengraving salesman for a company in Denver, CO.
He has a son, Bob Winsett, and was just 40 when he passed away in 1959
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Laura Strecker Gastelum
Sponsor: Don & Patty Strecker
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Laura Strecker Gastelum is a Colorado native and graduated from Niwot High School as an Honor Student in 2001. She accepted a Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, Minnesota and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Upon graduating and passing her national nursing licensure examination, she was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps.
Laura was assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, TX from 2006-2009 as a medical-surgical nurse. While there, she was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and voluntarily deployed with the 86th Combat Support Hospital from Fort Campbell, Kentucky on a 15-month tour to a hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. She was there from October 2007-January 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Following her deployment, Laura briefly returned to Brooke Army Medical Center, was promoted to Captain, and then reassigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska. She served there from 2009-2012 as the Troop Health Clinic head nurse. After her Alaska tour, Laura chose to leave active duty and join the Army Reserves, in which she served from 2012-2016. She was promoted to Major in 2016 prior to leaving the Army Reserves and entering the inactive reserves where she currently serves.
Since leaving active duty, Laura has been working as a hospice nurse in both home-based and inpatient settings. Her most recent job was at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center where she worked as the Assistant Nurse Manager on the hospice and palliative care ward.
Laura entered graduate school at the University of Minnesota in 2015 to pursue her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a specialty in Integrative Health and Healing. She graduated in May of 2020 and hopes to apply her degree to hospice settings and military veterans in the future.
Laura is a graduate of the Medical Officer Basic Course, Medical Captain’s Career Course, Head Nurse Course, and Combat Casualty Care Course.
Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (1 CS), and the Overseas Service Ribbon (2)
Laura is married to Uriel Gastelum who retired from the U.S. Army in 2022 after twenty years of service. They currently reside along with their two children, Claire and Neomi, in Aurora, Colorado.
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Edward Gostling
Sponsor: Wanda Gostling
Banner location:Cottonwood Square #20
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Edward Gostling
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Sarah Strecker HermidaSponsor: Don & Patty Strecker
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Sarah Strecker Hermida is a Colorado Native and graduated from Niwot High School as Salutatorian in 1999. She accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point in June 1999.
Sarah graduated from the USMA in May 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. She was commissioned as a 2nd LT in the Adjutant General (AG) Corps of the U.S. Army. Her first duty assignment was in the 1st Personnel Command as the Rear Detachment Commander, Detachment Bravo, 90th Personnel Services Battalion (PSB), in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Sarah was promoted to 1st LT in 2004.
Sarah then served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, 90th Postal Company, 90th PSB. In 2005, Sarah deployed to Kuwait for one year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) where she was the S-1 and Adjutant, 90th PSB. Her unit provided command and control for the reception, training, and redeployment coordination for hundreds of thousands of service members transiting throughout the Middle East.
Following redeployment to Germany in 2006 Sarah attended the Adjutant General’s Captains Career Course (AGCCC) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and was promoted to Captain. While attending the AGCCC, she was selected by the staff of the Soldier Support Institute to serve as a staff planner and operations officer in redeveloping the core curriculum for both the AGCCC and the Adjutant General’s Basic Officer Leader Course (AGBOLC-B).
Following graduation of the AGCCC Sarah assumed command of the Ogden Recruiting Company, Salt Lake City Battalion, 6th Recruiting Brigade, in Ogden, Utah in June 2007. She commanded the Ogden Recruiting Company from 2007 until 2009, with the company achieving the honor of being the United States Army Recruiting Command’s (USAREC) top company for fiscal year 2009.
After relinquishing command in June 2009, Sarah transferred to the US Army Reserves where she continues to serve. She was promoted to Major in October 2012.
Sarah is a graduate of the US Army Intermediate Level Education (ILE) Command and General Staff Officer Course (CGSC), the Recruiting Company Commanders Course, the AGCCC, the Unit Movement Officer Course, and AGBOLC-B.
Sarah’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the U.S. Army Recruiter Badge, and the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency (BRONZE).
Sarah is married to Major John Hermida (an active duty Army AG officer). He is stationed at Ft Carson, CO where they live with their two children Emily and Jack.
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William Hester
Sponsor: Renae Hester Dahiya
Banner location:
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William started in military security service as a radio operator, progressed to supervisor, went to Vietnam as an airborne radio operator. After Vietnam he worked in administrative fields for a few years, then a couple of years in manpower. Served last two years as a first sergeant.
Tours of duty: military training was at Lackland AFB TX and Kessler AFB MS. Did tours in the Philippines, Offut AFB NE, Beale AFB CA, Misawa AFB Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Germany, then Texas where he retired.
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John W. “Jack” Hinkelman, Jr.
Sponsor: Pam (Hinkelman) Tennant
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Jack enlisted in the Navy in 1943 in the United States Naval Reserve serving onboard ships as an Ensign and later as a Lt. Commander.
At the end of WWII, he was sometimes stationed up and down the east coast and met our mom, Joy, as she came aboard his ship for a tour in Wilmington N.C. They eventually married and were stationed in Pensacola, Florida, where he attended flight school to became a Naval aviator. During the Korean War, he flew combat missions in an F4U airplane off of carriers in the Pacific theater.
Later, through the Navy, he went on to earn his masters degree in atmospheric sciences working as a Naval liaison with the FAA in Washington until his retirement.
In 1963, he retired from the Navy as a Commander and brought his family west to Boulder Colorado to join the weather team at the newly formed NCAR. He worked on atmospheric research through aviation and was part of a flight team that took him around the world to study weather. He also had tenure at NOAA and his accomplishments were primarily related to weather and aviation.
Later during his retirement, he had the opportunity to help set up weather radar systems at airports around the world.
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Julie Strecker Hoxha
Sponsor: Don & Patty Strecker
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Julie Strecker Hoxha is a Colorado native and graduated from Niwot High School as an Honor Student in 2004. She accepted a Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Julie graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology and law studies. She commissioned as a 2nd LT in the United States Army and was assigned to the Chemical Corps.
Julie’s first duty station was at the Army base in Schweinfurt, Germany where she spent three years, returning to the states in 2012. During that tour of duty Julie was promoted to 1st LT.
After Germany, Julie attended the Signal Corps school at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and transferred to the Signal Corps in 2012.
Julie’s next assignment was at Fort Hood, Texas, as the BN S6 with the 1st MED BDE. There she was promoted to Captain in 2012 and was sent to the Captain’s Career Course in Fort Gordon, Georgia.
In 2014, Julie volunteered for overseas assignment in Qatar and was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan for one year during Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS). Upon her return in 2015, she was stationed at Joint Base Endorsement-Richardson, Alaska.
Julie transferred to the Army Reserves in 2018 and was also promoted to Major that year. She served in the Army Reserves at Fort Bragg, NC as a Command and General Staff College student. Julie was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2023.
Julie is a graduate of the Chemical Basic Officer Leader’s Course, Signal Corps Captain’s Career Course, Airborne Course and will complete the Intermediate Level Education (ILE) Course in summer 2021.
Her awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 CS), Overseas Service Ribbon (3), NATO medal, Parachutist badge, and the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency (gold).
Julie is married to Lieutenant Colonel Bimi Hoxha who serves on Active Duty in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. They currently reside at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska along with their two children Nora and Timothy.
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Owen Irby
Sponsor: Jan Kahl
Banner location:Second Ave #22 |
Owen was born January 2nd 1923. He was inducted in the Army Jan 6, 1943 and became a waist gunner on a B17 named “I’ll Be Around”. He was shot down April 29, 1944 after 15 missions. And landed in The North Sea and captured by the Germans April 30, 1944 and was a prisoner of war until he was liberated by the British April 16, 1945 and discharged October 18, 1945.
He attended the American Academy of Horology in Denver Colorado to become a watchmaker. He married Rita Travis and moved back to his home state of Arkansas where they had four children. They returned to Colorado in 1962. In 1965 He purchased Schapell’s Jewelers in Boulder, CO. and retired 30 years later. He work with his youngest daughter at Niwot Jewelry & Gifts until his death in 1998.
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Lance Kalahar
Sponsor: David Kalahar
Banner location:Cottonwood Square #11 |
Lance is a 2010 graduate of LHS. His enlistment was 2010-2014. Primary duty station was Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD. Handled bomb and drug sniffing K9’s. In civilian life, he handled bomb detection K9’s for the National Football League and the Colorado Rockies. He now has his own dog training business: https://www.freelancedogtraining.com/, and is also the head trainer for Victory Service Dogs in Colorado Springs, training service dogs for veterans with PTSD.
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Mary & Bill Kistler
Sponsor: Tim & Carrie Wise
Banner location:Second Ave #12 |
The banner is a picture of my (Carrie Kistler Wise) parents.
I do not have any written history of my dad’s service during World War II. What I do know is my folks met and fell in love when they were both working at Lockheed in Burbank, California. That was at the beginning of the war.
Mom was a “Rosie the Riveter”. Dad was a machinist. In a letter I found of my mom’s to a sister she said: “The photo was taken when Bill had a few days in California before being sent to Norfolk, Virginia”. Mom was still working at Lockheed. Mom wrote to her sister that they got along so well and she was so happy. Dad wanted her to move to Virginia and mom was concerned about leaving her job because they were moving her to another project and she was excited about it. Mom made the move to Virginia.
They were constant partners and loving companions. Mom & dad eventually moved back to California where they made a family with 5 children.
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William Knutsen
Sponsor: Karen Knutsen Quinn
Banner location:
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Herman T. Krol
Sponsor: Teri Ficken
Banner location:Second Ave #26 |
Herman was born on 19 October 1914 in Paterson, NJ the son of Jacob and Cora Krol (his parents had both immigrated to the U.S. in 1911 from the Netherlands). He attended East Side High School in Paterson and was a 1933 graduate of the Bullis Prep School in Washington, DC. He received a Congressional Appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1934, and his assignment certificate was signed by President Roosevelt.
Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in 1938, Herm was assigned to the USS Mississippi, and then the USS Stack before being accepted to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. After completion of advanced fighter training, he was assigned to the USS Ranger. The Ranger was experiencing a shortage of dive-bomber pilots so Herm went to Norfolk, Virginia for additional fighter training as a dive-bomb pilot. He flew bombing missions from the Ranger which was the largest air craft carrier in the Atlantic Fleet.
In 1942, he went to Jacksonville as a flight instructor, and then in 1944 he was assigned to the USS Wasatch during the battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines in October of 1944, which is the largest naval battle in world history. After the end of WWII he was then assigned to the USS McKinley. In 1946 he was the commanding officer of VR-1 Transport Squadron at NAS Patuxent River. In 1949 Herm flew in the Berlin Airlift.
In 1950 he was the Commanding Officer of the Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron based in Argentia, Newfoundland. From 1952 until retirement, he flew for MATS (Military Air Transport) and worked with Westinghouse with the Bureau of Naval Weapons.
Upon retirement from the Navy in 1960, he went to work for Martin Marietta in Baltimore on the Apollo Program. In 1962 he was transferred to Martin Marietta in Denver where he worked on the Titan ICBM Missile Program. After that program ended, Herm went to work for the State of Colorado as a Civil Engineer and was involved in the design and construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel. He continued to work for the State until his retirement 1980. Herman passed away in 2012 at the age of 98 and is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery.
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Ray Larsen
Sponsor: Terry Larsen
Banner location:
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Ray was born March 7, 1928 in Omaha Nebraska. His father initially owned a bank in Potter Nebraska, but they moved around when his father lost the bank during the depression. Ray enlisted in the Navy towards the end of the Second World War. The war ended as he was being deployed so that he ended up serving as part of the U.S. occupational forces in Japan. He served on the USS Chicago, a Heavy Cruiser, which was the Admiral’s flagship.
After returning from Japan he attended San Jose State University and earned a master’s degree in Business Administration and secured a teaching credential.
Ray was recalled to the Navy during the Korea war and served at a Navy base in the Aleutian Islands for a time during this period.
Ray and Marcia met when they both attended San Jose State University and were married Nov, 28, 1952 in San Jose Ca.
Upon Ray receiving his teaching credential, Ray and Marcia move to San Luis Obispo, Ca. where Ray taught at a local Junior High School. They then moved to Santa Rosa, CA where Ray initially taught at Santa Rosa High School and then transferred to Montgomery High School, where he taught till he retired in 1988. Ray and Marcia eventually built a home in Nevada City, Ca. where they stayed until moving to Phoenix Az in 2015.
They raised three boys and now have 7 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Ray passed away Jan 3, 2020 at 91 years of age of natural causes.
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Thomas Lawhead
Sponsor: Terry Larsen
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After graduating from high school in Boise Idaho, Tom joined the Navy at the age of 17. He chose the Navy because he had never seen the ocean. After completing Basic and Radio Operator Training he joined the crew of the submarine USS Torsk whose mission was to patrol the Atlantic Ocean. Fortunately World War II ended 6 weeks after setting sail.
After discharge he attended Boise Junior College and Oregon State University. Still enchanted with the idea of travel, he took a job with a construction company in Morocco. After this job, he toured Europe, and returned home as a crewman on a merchant ship.
He returned home to Idaho, but soon followed high school friends to San Francisco where he met our mother Dedo Josephine Misley. They were married, and he took a job with IBM where he began a new 34 year adventure while transferring to a new locations several times during his career.
He lived to the age of 87, but said that the time he enjoyed the most in his life was raising his family with our Mother.
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Richard J. Lloyd
Sponsor: John Herman (great nephew)
Banner location:Cottonwood Square #17 |
Richard Lloyd served in the 100th Infantry Division 398th Infantry Regiment. He arrived in Marseille on October 20th 44′ and spent his final night in a shell crater before the final push to retake the Maginot Line near the town of Bitche on December 18th.
He received a Posthumous Award of Bronze Star Medal. The 398th Infantry Regiment received a number of Unit Citations, for the period December 17th to 21st.
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Alex Luker
Sponsor: Claire Simon
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Leon V Mason
Sponsor: Sheila Ray
Banner location:Second Ave #3 |
Leon V. Mason was born in Lawrence, Kansas in 1933 and graduated from Kansas University. In 1955 he was commissioned as an officer in the US Air Force and served two years active duty at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. He continued serving his country for another 26 years as a reservist, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. For three years, he was Deputy Commander of the Air Force Reserve Recovery Unit. His Technical Intelligence specialty took him to such assignments at the Pentagon, Wright-Patterson AFB, Lindsey AF Station, Germany, and Lowry AFB.
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Jacqueline Melvin
Sponsor: Chuck Klueber
Banner location:Second Ave #16 |
Jacqueline was born in 1921 in Racine, WI. She longed to serve her country in the air, like her older brother Edward did! Stationed in San Diego, she was then chosen for Navy Flight Nurse school at Alameda NAS to specifically support Admiral Nimitz in the evacuation of wounded Marines from The Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa ( VRE-1). Under treacherous conditions, flights were from Guam to the target areas, surrounded by kamikazees. LT Jacquet and 107 Navy flight nurses evacuated 9600 wounded in 3 months ( 1 April- 22 June 1945) and brought them to Guam. She stated that she was “ just doing my job!” After the war ended, she served at NAS Glenview. LT Jacquet married COL Martin Melvin, USMC, and had 8 children, 4 of whom served proudly!
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Martin Melvin
Sponsor: Chuck Klueber
Banner location:Second Ave #17 |
“Bud” was born in Oak Park, Illinois on 12/31/1919. He attended St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, Kansas and played Basketball and ran Track. He also was the Asst. Business Manager and wrote columns for the college newspaper. After his 3rd year there, his Mom passed. Sadly, he returned home and subsequently wanted to serve his country as WWII was announced. He joined the Marine Corps as a Private, went to Boot Camp at MCRD and was chosen for Sea School. His new assignment was as an Anti-aircraft gunner on the USS Hornet (CV-8). Bud met the Hornet in Hawaii while she was undergoing new armament in June, 1942. The Battle of Santa Cruz ensued and she was sunk on October 26, 1942. Bud was one of the lucky Marine Gunner Survivors! He then attended Marine Officers School in 1943 and was mobilized in 1944 to serve as Communications Watch Officer in the Battle of the Phillipines with the 1st MAW HQ squadron, MAG-12, and MAG-32 as a Marine unit with General McArthur. WWII ended and Bud graduated from Loyola University, Chicago, IL. The Korean War started in 1950 and Bud was sent with Ist MAW and MTACS-2 and MGCIS-2 as Adjutant in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. Bud later served as Commanding Officer of an air unit at Glenview NAS IL. He married LT Jacqueline Jacquet, a Navy flight nurse also on a Banner here, and they had 8 children, 4 of whom served proudly. Bud was Asst. Buyer at Sears Tower, Chicago, and completed 27 years at Sears. COL Melvin and his wife Jackie were exceptional role models for their 8 children and he passed away August 21, 1997. Jacqueline recently passed at almost 100 years of age on May 23, 2021. God bless them both and the great country they served so well!
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Charles Misura
Sponsor: Sandra Misura
Banner location:Cottonwood Square #23 |
Charles Misura
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Charles A. Monroe Jr.
Sponsor: Kathy Koehler
Banner location:Second Ave #15 |
Chuck was born in Boulder, Colorado in 1914 into a heritage family. He attended and graduated from Boulder schools, then graduated from the University of Colorado and was tapped by the Delta Sigma Pi (honorary business society). He was employed at the Boulder Daily Camera when he began service in the Army Air Corp, European theatre (Germany, Belgium, England) in World War II from 1942 – 1946. While in Europe, Chuck wrote articles to let citizens at home know what was happening in the war which were published in the newspaper. With an honorable discharge from military service, he returned to work at the Boulder Daily Camera as circulation and production manager for over 25 years.
He was a devoted family man and very active in the Boulder business community, church, charitable organizations, and he and his wife, Mary, were active CU alumni and avid supporters of the football program.
Chuck enjoyed bowling in the winter months and loved to golf. An accomplished golfer with a zero handicap, he consulted on the build and layout of the Boulder Country Club golf course in 1964-1965. He was President of the Club at the time of his sudden death in 1968.
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Kenneth Musselman
Sponsor: Lynda & Greg Dunnell
Banner location:Second Ave #9 |
Upon graduating from Western Michigan University in 1969, Ken joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, becoming a commissioned officer in 1970. From 1970-1971 he served aboard the U.S.S. Connole (DE-1056) in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean as their Damage Control Officer. In 1971 he was transferred to the U.S.S. Cohoes (ANL-78) which was stationed in Vietnam and served as their Executive Officer and Navigator. A year later he was sent to the U.S.S. Tawakoni (ATF-114) in the Pacific, again serving as their Executive Officer and Navigator. He received the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal for action in Vietnam and was designated a Disabled American Veteran because of his exposure to Agent Orange in that conflict. He was discharged in 1973 with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) and entered Purdue University on the GI Bill, earning his PhD in engineering in 1978 specializing in Operations Research, a field he had learned about while in service.
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Clarence A. Nelsen
Sponsor: Julie Breyer
Banner location:Second Ave #25 |
Clarence Andrew Nelsen was born in Colby, Wisconsin on May 15, 1922. As a child he was in an accident which caused him to lose the sight in his left eye. When the United States entered WWII he was one of the first in line to enlist. He was hopeful that the United States Army would take him even with his disability. He was sent from line to line receiving the same notification that he would be unable to serve until the last line where someone noticed that he had electronics experience. Clarence was enlisted, sent for training in California and then to Hawaii. He was soon stationed on Iwo Jima where he proudly served as a radio technician for the duration of the war.
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Edward Nowak
Sponsor:
Banner location:Second Ave #14
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Joseph O’Connell
Sponsors: Kelly Stroker (daughter)
Banner location:Cottonwood Square #9 |
Joseph O’Connell, Jr. was born on December 17, 1943 to Joseph and Dorothy O’Connell in Washington, DC. After graduating from Archbishop Carroll High School, he attended the University of Maryland. Following his time at University, Joe enlisted in the United States Army where he was deployed to Germany to as part of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR). Joe felt fortunate to have been deployed to Berlin and when asked about his time overseas stated “Losing good friends to the war is not what I like to remember”. After 2 years, Joe was honorably discharged and returned home to Maryland. He received the National Defense Service Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Berlin).
Joe retired from a career in Maryland working for Montgomery County and he and his wife, Donna, bought a house in Longmont, CO in 2005 to be closer to their first grandchild and has been a proud resident of Colorado since.
Joe passed away on May 4, 2023 and is survived by his wife Donna, who still resides in Longmont and his 2 children: Kelly O’Connell Stroker (husband Joe Stroker) of Niwot, CO, Michael O’Connell (wife Lindsay O’Connell) of Hagerstown, MD. His granddaughter is a proud Cougar at Niwot High class of 2027.
My father wrote letters to his parents quite often during his deployment, which we were all shocked to find after his passing. We enjoy reading those letters now and learning more about his time overseas and his service. He was, and always will be, our hero.
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Terrence J O’Neill
Sponsors: Lucia Fox
Banner location:Second Ave #27 |
At 23 years old and recently graduated from Notre Dame, Terrence O’Neill, already an experienced pilot, enlisted in the Navy to become a Naval Aviator. The Korean War was on and expected to continue, and the draft was on-going. After completing flight training, Ensign O’Neill was commissioned as a Naval Aviator, Navigator, and Electronic Countermeasures Officer, and in 1956 was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. By this time, the conflict was over, but the Cold War continued to heat-up, and Terrence was actively involved in Pacific operations. During his naval career, he flew several types of Navy aircraft from the Okinawa Naval Base and off aircraft carriers. His duties included Commander of a Patrol Squadron of 48, flying the P2V Neptune patrol aircraft while performing reconnaissance missions. While stationed in Okinawa, he bought a house on base so that his new wife Cynthia (now married 65 years) could join him. In 1957, just a few weeks prior to the conclusion of his service, (now) Lt. (j.g.) Terrence O’Neill and Cynthia had their first child … a Navy wife giving birth in an Army Hospital, delivered by an Air Force Doctor, during a blackout! Following an honorable discharge from the Navy, Terrence has continued to be active as a pilot and a flight instructor. His career included work as an engineer, an author of an historical novel, and a writer for aviation magazines. He developed, built, and test flew numerous aircraft, including several of his own design. To this day, he remains involved in aviation, actively engaging with younger airplane designers and providing technical design guidance. Terrence and Cynthia O’Neill reside in Niwot and have another home in Illinois. They have 6 children and many grand- and great-grandchildren located throughout the US and Canada.
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Richard A. Piland
Sponsor: Dixie Piland
Banner location:Second Ave #11 |
Commander Piland’s Naval Aviation career began in while he was at Oregon State University as he began Aviation Officer Candidate School in the summers. He was commissioned in September 1969, and began flight training at NAS Whiting Field, Fla. and NAS Corpus Christi, Tx. Dick was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1971.
He was assigned to fly P-3 Orions conducting operational and training flights at Patrol Squadron 46 at NAS Moffett Field, Ca. and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan from 1971 to 1975. Their main mission was to spot, identify, and track submarines off the coast of Vietnam.
From 1975 to 1978, Dick returned to NAS Whiting Field, Fla. as a flight instructor. He was honored as Flight Instructor of the Year and was privileged to bring the new T34C prop jet trainers from the Beechcraft factory in Kansas to Whiting Field as a replacement for the T34B’s.
Landing on a carrier was a thrilling experience during training and Dick got to continue this while stationed on the USS Enterprise CVN 65. Although this tour sadly ended in dry dock in Bremerton, Wa., he continued to instruct and train pilots.
In 1980 to 1984, Dick returned to NAS Moffett Field and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan to again serve as a P-3 Orion pilot at Patrol Squadron 47.
The high point of Dick’s career was the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Facility in Mildenhall, U.K., a Fleet Logistics Support Squadron. He received the Meritorious Service Medal for his commitment and performance.
Commander Piland retired from the Navy in September 1989 to Niwot, CO. where he began a second career as a pilot for United Air Lines.
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Charles Edward Quinn
Sponsors: his children:
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Charles “Charlie” was born December 28, 1923 in Accoville, West Virginia. His family then moved to Portage, Pennsylvania when Charlie was quite young. Charlie joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was part of the 87th Air Service Command Transport Group in England. He was one of five brothers in the United States Armed Forces at the same time. Pfc. Charles E. Quinn was an aerial engineer for the Douglas C-47 Air Transport Group and Consolidated B-24 aircraft over Europe.
Flying from the largest Trans-Channel Air Freight Depot in Britain, Charlie helped to carry more than 60,000,000 pounds of critically-needed supplies and equipment to ground forces in Germany. When all other transportation was bogged down, the giant Douglas transport planes were able to land close to the troops with the war material they needed. Charlie made several flights to Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France, Holland, and Germany as well as a special Christmas Eve trip to carry troops to the front. He was also part of the release of injured soldiers from the front.
Dad returned home to Pennsylvania to marry his high school sweetheart Harriet where they raised their seven children and enjoyed a wonderful and loving 70 years together.
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Theodore Plese
Sponsors: Mary Plese
Banner location:Cottonwood Square #24 |
Ted was born in Pueblo Colorado in 1913 to Anton and Mary Plese. He married Christine Yaklich in 1940. Ted was on the path to becoming a farmer in Pueblo, like his fathers and several uncles. Christine died in July 1941 shortly after the birth of their son, Dallas Plese. Ted, who was a ‘sole surviving son’, could have opted out of service. But he was a true patriot, and he enlisted in 1943. He was stationed at a site on Lake Pontchartraina, New Orleans LA. December 17, 1943, while on a training exercise, Ted was trapped in a capsized boat. He and several soldiers were killed in the incident.
His son, Dallas, served in the Colorado National Guard.
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Eugene L. Ray
Sponsor: Sheila Ray
Banner location:Second Ave #4 |
Eugene L. Ray was born in Strawn, Kansas in 1922 and graduated from High School there. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in October of 1942. He trained in California and was sent to the European Theater of Operations for 21 months. He served as Crew Chief of a P-38 maintenance crew until November of 1945. He was awarded the Bronze Star for military achievement, 6 campaign battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. He left the military as a Technical Sergeant. He married his high school Sweetheart, Berta and raised 4 children.
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Donald Sartori
Sponsor: The (Niwot) Steiner Family
Banner location:Second Ave #21 |
Donald Max Sartori, of Boulder, died suddenly while on vacation in Bozeman, Montana on March 12, 2010. He was 73.
The son of Dante Antonio Sartori and Florence Ann Immel, he was born in Fond du Lac, WI on Bastille Day, July 14, 1936. On September 9, 1959 he was married to the love of his life, Miyoko Funatsu, by his close friend, Rev. Richard Poetter, at the Mito Lutheran Mission Church, Mito-City, Japan.
Don enlisted in the Air Force in 1955 and served as a NSA trained Intelligence Analyst and Intelligence Specialist at several bases in Japan. He received early promotion to Sergeant for analysis performed during the Cold War.
In 1965 he was designated a Distinguished Graduate of the USAF Officer Training School (OTS) and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. His assignments included Base Comptroller, Itazuki AB, Japan, Chief of Management and Budget, McConnell AFB, Kansas, and Accounting and Finance Officer, Utapao AB, Thailand and Misawa AB, Japan. His awards included the USAF Meritorious Service Medal and four Commendation Medals all for distinguished leadership, and the Vietnam Service and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medals. He took special pride in leading and being with the troops in direct support of air operations. He retired from the Air Force as a Major in 1978.
Don then moved with his family to Boulder, earned a CPA, and worked as a business manager, accountant, auditor, audit director, and adjunct faculty in the Denver area. In 1986 he moved to Hawaii where he worked as a management analyst.
In 1988 he received an appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Boston University MSBA program in Europe where he taught accounting and finance courses throughout Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. In 1991, he accepted a tenured appointment to the University of Hawaii – West Oahu (UHWO), the newest baccalaureate degree granting institution in the University of Hawaii system. He established a CPA qualifying Accounting program and together with active student participation and faculty support grew it to the third largest program at the school. In addition to teaching at the Main campus, he also taught in the UHWO Outreach program in Kauai, Maui, and in Kona on the Big Island. He retired from UHWO as an associate professor in 2001.
Don was a graduate of Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Fond du Lac, WI, Michigan State University with an earned BA in Finance, and the University of Colorado where he earned an MBA and was designated an Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Distinguished Graduate. He was a long time member of the Military Officers’ Association, Colorado and Hawaii Society of CPAs, Institute of Internal Auditors, and a USO volunteer.
Don was a Christian who loved his God, the grace of salvation, and the blessing of living in a democracy. He was very proud of his children, their spouses, their achievements, and the contributions they all make to a better America. He enjoyed vacationing and being with his close and loving family, camping with his wife and grandchildren, skiing and traveling throughout the world, tending his yard, and volunteering at the USO.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, and is survived by his wife Miyoko, three children, Cynthia (Bill Burtts), Anthony Sartori (Jane Slaughter), and Kimiko (Jim Steiner) and six grandchildren, Madison and Max Burtts, Pierce and Sequoia Sartori, Lucas and Isabella Steiner, one sister Jean Krueger, and two brothers David and Philip Sartori.
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Jim Schaefer
Sponsor: Joan & James Schaefer
Banner location:Second Ave #2 |
Jim Schaefer’s work made high-altitude bombing of Germany feasible. He contributed to increasing the accuracy of U.S. artillery fire. He became a highly decorated soldier fighting in France and across Germany.
As a 20 year-old analytical chemist Jim invented a process that allowed US bombers to fly above 10,000 feet, making high-altitude bombing feasible and successful, as in Berlin in 1943. The Air Force’s problem had been that its bombers lost power whenever they flew high trying to escape flak barrages from German anti-aircraft guns. The lost power was due to electrical graphite popping off the brushes of the bomber engines. Jim’s creative process prevented the graphite losses, allowed high-altitude bombing and saved the lives of many American aviators.
Jim also worked on the first experimental batteries used to power proximity fuses (“the secret fuse that won World War II”, according to accounts). When placed in an artillery shell the fuse created radio waves that could sense a target’s precise location, then trigger the shell to explode when it got “close enough” to destroy the target. Gunners no longer needed to hit a target directly to destroy it. This fuse vastly increased the accuracy of America’s artillery attacks and tripled the Navy’s kill rate against Japanese kamikaze attacks.
Soon after these early scientific accomplishments Jim joined the Army and fought in the 42nd “Rainbow” Division infantry across southern France, Germany and into Austria, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Due to intense and frequent fighting 75% of his unit was killed or injured. He earned four Bronze Stars and four other medals for his service. He was very fortunate to survive. He returned to Cleveland, Ohio, after discharge in 1946 and raised six children with his wife, and high school sweetheart, Marge.
During his subsequent career he received 18 US and foreign patents, primarily for making high purity metals such as ultra pure Titanium, the first ductile Chromium powder and pure Boron. His work included a patent on lithium battery anodes used in many batteries today. He wrote over thirty articles for the US government on early solar cells and on high energy molten salt batteries, including work at Argonne National Laboratories in Chicago.
Since the 42nd Division liberated the Dachau concentration death camp in 1945 Jim was one of 14 still-able-bodied concentration camp liberators honored in 2012 at the Krakow (Poland) Opera House near the Auschwitz death camp in a spectacularly joyous ceremony shown at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJpEDSczwnI The focus on a very happy Jim is best at the 1:15 and 1:34 marks.
Jim and Marge were married for 58 years before she died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2001. Jim died in 2017 at the age of 95.
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Gismonde A. Silvestrone
Sponsor: Paula Hull
Banner location:Second Ave #6 |
Gismonde (Gino or Gene) Silvestrone was born in the small town of Cugnoli, Italy on Dec. 2, 1925. At the age of 12 he sailed with his Mom and older brother on the Italian ocean liner SS Rex from Genoa, Italy arriving at the port of New York City on May 13, 1938. That voyage of the SS REX was famously tracked and intercepted by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the United States Army Air Corp on May 12, 1938. After arriving in New York, the family was reunited with Gene’s father in Watertown, Massachusetts. Gene became a naturalized American Citizen and enlisted in the army in August 1944. He served oversees as PFC with Company B, 314 Infantry Regiment, 79th Division. While serving he sustained shrapnel wounds, was treated in a hospital in Belgium and was later awarded the purple heart. After WWII ended, he was transferred to Nuremburg Germany to guard German war prisoners, notably Hermann Goering, during the Nuremburg Trials. He returned home to Massachusetts in June 1946, married Catherine D’Amore in September 1951 and thereafter raised their 6 children. He owned and operated his own Beauty Salon for more than 30 years in Bedford, MA before retiring to Cape Cod and Naples, Florida, where he passed in February 2016. . In retirement, he donated photographs of Nazi concentration camps to the Naples Holocaust museum.
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John “Jack” Sullivan
Sponsor: Sandy Krakowski (daughter),
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Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, 20-year-old Jack entered the Marine Corps after Pearl Harbor and became a pilot, flying off carriers in the Pacific during WWII. He remained in the Marine Corps for 32 years; his service included a long tour in the Korean Conflict, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for “extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against enemy forces.” His squadron was on high alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and he flew transports in and out of Danang during his tour of duty in Viet Nam. He was very proud of serving his country by being a Marine.
Jack married his high school sweetheart, LaDonna, during WWII. Their six children were each born in a different state as the family moved from one duty station to another. He retired in 1974 as a Lt. Col., settling near MCAS El Toro in Southern California, and died in December, 1999.
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Andrew Tubach
Sponsor: Amy Tubach
Banner location:
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Andrew “Andy” David Tubach was raised in Fruita, Colorado. After graduation from Fruita Monument High School in 1996, Andy enlisted in the Navy at 17 years old. Andy was sent to the Naval Station Great Lakes outside of Chicago for boot camp. Following boot camp, he attended Nuclear Field school and Nuclear Power school in Orlando and Nuclear Prototype school in upstate New York before being stationed at the Naval Base at Point Loma, San Diego.
Andy was a Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (MM1/SS/DV) on active duty aboard a fast-attack submarine for 4 years, the U.S.S. Salt Lake City, where he made life-long friends and traveled to every continent except for Europe, during Operation Enduring Freedom. His primary duty was maintaining the nuclear steam plant. Andy was also the solo Navy SCUBA Diver on his nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, performing underwater inspections and exterior welding, as well as searching foreign harbors for impediments. He has a rare status of being a Golden Shellback after crossing the Equator at the International Date Line.
After completing 6 years of active duty service and 3 Western Pacific tours, Andy moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend CU to study chemical engineering. Andy currently lives in Niwot with his wife and two children.
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Lindsay Copperberg Underwood
Sponsor: The Copperberg Family
Banner location:Cottonwood Square #26 |
Lindsay was born in 1983 in Albany, NY and moved to Niwot, CO with her family in 1992. After living in Niwot since the 4th grade, and attending Niwot Elementary, Sunset Middle School, and graduating from Niwot High School in 2001, Lindsay attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, on an NROTC scholarship, and graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.
She was commissioned in the US Navy as an Ensign in December 2005 from CU, earning a spot in Flight School. Lindsay moved between Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX for flight training, and received her Naval Aviator wings in September 2007. She served at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, CA, where she flew SH-60B Seahawks. She was deployed on board the USS Chancellorsville, a cruiser, and the USS Gridley, a destroyer, and flew SH-60Bs in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from those ships, in the 5th and 7th Fleet AORs between 2009 and 2011. Lindsay subsequently moved to NAS Patuxent River, MD for US Naval Test Pilot School, where she became a developmental test pilot in support of the MH-60R and MH60S aircraft.
In December 2016, she earned an MSE in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, while continuing to serve as a test pilot. Upon leaving the USNavy as a Lieutenant Commander in 2017, Lindsay continues to serve as a test pilot for the US Government as a Flight Test Director at HX-21.
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Vandelyn & Franklin Wright
Sponsor: Paula & Henry Wright
Banner location: Second Ave – 14 |
Franklin C. Wright was born in New York City, New York on February 17, 1933. He spent his early childhood loving sports, deeply involved in playing the piano, listening to music, and excelling academically. He graduated early, in what today would be called an accelerated, gifted or International Baccalaureate program from George Washington High School in Manhattan. Frank began his collegiate education first at City College of New York, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in Engineering. He had a keen interest to fly aircraft, studying astrology and astronomy. He also had a strong desire to explore the world, which resulted in his enlisting and graduating from Officer’s Candidate School at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas in 1952 where he received his Second Lieutenant bars.
During his 20-year career in the Air Force, he was considered one of the most accomplished bombardier/radar navigators and instructors. He guided strategic and nuclear aircraft, such as the B-29, B-36, B-52, Stealth bomber, FB-111 and F-16 aircraft during the Korean War, 13-day Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam Conflict. He obtained pilots credentials as needed to conduct Special Operations and engage in Atomic Research Command. Lieutenant Colonel Franklin C. Wright retired from the Air Force in 1972 and remained on Reserve.
Always eager to learn, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he lead, guided and grew the intramural athletic program, taught classes and served the community. Frank retired from the University of Massachusetts following 20-years of service.
Frank was married to a loving wife, devoted partner and chief advocate, Vandelyn T. Wright. Vandelyn was born September 19, 1933 and spent her early years in New York, enjoying ballet dancing, horseback riding, swimming and playing tennis. She met Franklin when they were very young and both attended St. James Presbyterian Church, becoming childhood sweethearts. The life of a military spouse is a role that historically is dictated by tradition. It takes a special person to be a military spouse. Vandelyn was not handed a ‘Military Wife’s Manual’ when she married Franklin C. Wright following his graduation from Officer’s Candidate School. Vandelyn was a faithful ‘Officer’s Wife’, traveling the United States and raising their 2 children, Paula and Henry. Both Paula and Henry reside in Niwot, Colorado.
Vandelyn remained state-side with her children while Frank served his country overseas. The role of a military spouse did not come lightly. It meant being supportive, loving, loyal, fierce and reliable. Rank issues were always a part of life as a military spouse, which were further complicated by the color of their skin and ethnicity. As a black officer’s wife, she faced racism from all fronts. While she knew that separation would happen, no one prepared her for the pain in her heart while he was away on missions. She remained tolerant, flexible, resilient, made sacrifices, managed a household and remained humble enough to endure any social situation. She always rose, like the words of Maya Angelou ….
“You may shoot me with your words.
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness
But still like the air, I rise”
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James Albert Zander
Sponsor: Jane Zander
Banner location:Second Ave #7 |
Jim was born in Saginaw Michigan in 1915. Previous to joining the Navy, as a pilot, Jim served as a civilian flight instructor for the Army Air Corps. As a Navy pilot during WWII, he was stationed in Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Hawaii. Jim flew various aircraft, but spent most of his time in C-47s, F6F Hellcats, and Corsairs. He transported troops and supplies to and from the war and was on Kwajalein and Guam in the South Pacific.
After the war, Jim flew as a corporate pilot for Dow Chemical and Dowell, Div. of Dow for many years.
Jim resided in Niwot for 24 years, on Murray St.