Obit: Sterzinger, Morris M. – Lt. Col. (1918 – 1971)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Sterzinger, Patten, Rushman, Vesley

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 24 Jun 1971

Sterzinger, Morris M. – Lt. Col. (8 MAY 1918 – 21 JUN 1971)

Lt. Col. Morris Mathew Sterzinger, retired, age 53, Colby, died Monday afternoon in the Wood VA Hospital, where he had been a patient.

Lt. Col. Sterzinger entered the United States Army in December of 1941, and retired from the United States Air Force in 1966.

Her served 24 years in the armed services and had lived in Madison, Abilene, Texas, and Seattle, Washington; spent three years in Okinawa, served in Japan from 1956 through 1959. Between his service overseas, he lived in Louisville, Kentucky for seven years, Elgin Air Force Base, Florida, and was a Wilford Hall Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.

He was born in the Town of Colby (Clark Co., Wis.), May 8, 1918 and was educated in Colby schools. He returned to Colby upon his retirement from the Air Force.

He was married to Corsina Patten in St. Mary’s Church at Colby on September 22, 1941.

Lt. Col. Sterzinger was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Colby VFW.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. today in St. Mary’s Church, with the Rev. Francis Rushman conducting last rites. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Visitation was held at Lulloff Funeral Home after 1 p.m. Wednesday.  A parish rosary was recited at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Surviving are his wife; nine children, Captain Morris Sterzinger Jr., in Germany; Robert of Santa Barbara, California, Steven Sterzinger, Biloxi, Mississippi, Lt. James Sterzinger, Enid, Oklahoma, Gerald, Wayne, Gary, Laurie and Frank at home; his mother, Mrs. Laura Sterzinger, Colby; two brothers, Gorman, Eureka, Illinois, and Randall, Dorchester; a a sister, Adeline Vesley, Schofield, and one grandchild.