William Baltisberger

William (Bill) Baltisberger, 95, of Marshalltown, passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at Unity Point Health Care in Marshalltown.   Memorial services for Bill will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be on Friday, June 14, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. also at the church. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bill and his family.   William Horace Baltisberger was born May 17, 1924 in Grinnell, IA to Harvey and Lucille Baltisberger. He grew up in Malcom, IA on the family farm until March 1936 when the family moved to Marshalltown. During high school, he played on the football team and the French horn in the band, as well as participated in student council and track. He graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1942. On August 20, 1942, Bill volunteered for US Army and entered the aviation cadet program. He graduated from navigation school in December of 1943 in Hondo, TX and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He came home on leave for the holidays and then went back in January 1944 to Delhart, TX. He was placed into a new bomber crew and proceeded to Kearney, NE for additional training. Bill’s crew flew a new B-17 overseas to England in early 1944. From England, he flew 31 missions with 26 of those as the lead navigator and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. On D-day, Bill flew two bombing missions over France, including one behind the lines of Omaha beach. Other missions of note included ditching his plane over the English Channel where he and most of his crew was rescued by the English and having to take control and land a disabled B-17 after the pilot and copilot were shot earning him the Silver Star. His missions included runs over Germany, France, Belgium, Hungary and Poland. On his last mission, Bill and his pilot parachuted over Germany and were captured by the enemy. They were sent to a prisoner of war camp near München but were able to escape one night. Bill used his outstanding navigation skills to guide their escape on foot and at night across Germany. Once they crossed Rhine River, they were able to reconnect with the Allies in France. Later, Bill came home to “flight operations” in Houston, TX until the end of WWII. He was discharged in August of 1945. During his service, he earned the Purple Heart, Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Russian medal, POW medal and recently received the Croix de Guerre medal from the French Ambassador. After his service, Bill attended Iowa State University starting in September 1945 and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He graduated in March 1949 with a teaching certificate and taught in Columbus Junction, IA in vocational agriculture for 2 ½ years. Bill was recalled to the Korean War in 1951 and served for eighteen months as 1st Lieutenant and B-29 Navigator in the Strategic Air Corps of the US Air Force. He was initially stationed in Tucson, AZ and later in French Morocco. He was on stand-by and ready to fly to Russia as a deterrent in the cold war threat. He was discharged in 1952.   Bill married Barbara Benson on August 17, 1947 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marshalltown, IA. His daughter, Nancy was born in 1948 while he was in college and his daughter Sandra was born in 1951 while he was teaching in Columbus Junction. He had a third daughter, Linda, born in 1955. After being discharged from the military, Bill worked for Young’s Feed Store for 10 years and then served as Sales Manager for Lynks Seed Corn Company for 25 years. After retiring from Lynks, he worked an additional 8 years for Ottlie Seed Company. Never one to sit at home, he left Ottlie and partnered with his nephew, Jay Benson to farm the centennial Benson farm and other farms. During his early professional career, Bill was elected to the city council for six years and served as President of the Jaycees. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW and was a Mason. Bill served as conservator and Power of Attorney for more than 35 veterans residing at the Veteran’s Home. He continued this service late into life still supporting 5 vets with finances and medical decisions. Bill had been a faithful member of St Paul’s church and served on the vestry. He attended several 352 Bomber Group reunions across the nation.   During his life, Bill traveled extensively including to Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Kenya and Canada. He yearly visited his children in Colorado and Washington. Bill was an avid stamp collector. Throughout his life, he owned several hunting dogs and every fall would go pheasant hunting and competed in dog shows often winning blue ribbons. Bill loved fishing at Lake of the Woods, Ontario with his extended family. The last trip to the lake in 2018 included over 40 family members from five different states. On his 90th birthday, he flew into the remote Arrow Lake and caught and released over twenty fish in one day!   Bill is survived by his daughters: Nancy (Rodger) Larsen of Mukilteo, WA, Sandra (Val) Giles of Forks, WA and Linda (Dale) Gabel of Golden, CO; grandchildren: Jessica Larsen, Eric Larsen, Jennifer Edwards, Jeff Giles, Julia Ahrndt, Amanda Olson, Megan Hendricks and Katrina Gabel; great-grandchildren: Claire Larsen, Morgan Larsen, Charlie Larsen, Ryan Cebula, Marcus Larsen, Lauren Edwards, Emma Edwards, Jackson Giles, Jameson Giles, Benson Ahrndt, Addison Ahrndt, Grace Olson, Luke Olson, Jeremy Hendricks and Shelly Hendricks; siblings: Richard Baltisberger of Newark, OH and James Baltisberger of San Antonio TX.   In death, Bill rejoins Barbara, his wife of 69 years and his parents, Harvey and Lucille.