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June 24, 2012
Louis J. Staudenmeier, 91, passed away Sunday at his residence in Ashland.
Born in Ashland, Feb. 1, 1921, he was a son of the late Francis and Caroline Schu Staudenmeier.
He was a 1938 graduate of Ashland High School. Following high school, he briefly resided in Philadelphia and was employed by the Reading Railroad. He retired from the Prudential Insurance Company after 35 years.
Following the United States entrance into World War II, he returned to Ashland and enlisted in the Army Air Corp. After training in various bases, he was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 98th Bomb Group, 343rd Squadron based near Lecce, Italy. He performed gunner duties on a B24 bomber including the ball turret, waist and nose gunner positions. His plane was shot down over Hungary on June 25, 1944, on return from his 50th mission. Prior to being shot down, he participated in a number of the famous raids on the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania. He was captured and interrogated by the local Hungarian authorities and turned over to the German forces. Ultimately, he was transferred and imprisoned at Stalag Luft IV in what is now part of Poland.
In February 1945, he and the other prisoners were forced by the Germans to march out of camp on what is now known as the "Black March" to avoid the advance of the Russian army. He and his fellow prisoners were forced to march in harsh winter conditions approximately 500 miles in 86 days. They were finally liberated by the British Army in May 1945.
He was the recipient of a number of medals for service including the POW medal, four Bronze Stars, the Air Medal with three clusters, a Good Conduct medal and Air Crew Members for air combat over Europe and the Balkans and was a member of the Caterpillar Club.
He was a member of the Ashland Elks (Past Exalted Ruler), an active member and officer of the American Legion, charter member of the VFW, member of Gordon Rifle Club and Fountain Springs Country Club.
Louis enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, hunting and fishing and was an avid golfer in retirement.
He was a lifetime member of St. Mauritius Catholic Church, Ashland.
Louis was married to and survived by his wife of 53 years, Winifred Murphy, formerly of Byrnesville. They were married in St. Ignatius Church, Centralia.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Joseph, George, John, Francis, Lawrence and Raymond; and two sisters, Elizabeth (Sister Caroline Joseph, O.S.F.) and Mary Williams.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Joseph (Michelle), Gaithersburg, Md., Paul, Wayne, Caroline (Matthew) Lobos, Elysburg, and Marianne (Andrew) Thompson, North Kingstown, R.I.; five grandchildren, Joseph and Patrick Lobos, Samantha and Scott Thompson and Weston Staudenmeier; two brothers, Leonard, Ashland, and William, Eureka, Ill.; nieces and nephews.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday in St. Mauritius Church, Ashland, with the Rev. John Bambrick officiating. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. There will be a viewing from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Friday at the church. Memorials to be made to St. Mauritius Church, Ashland, and American Ex-Prisoners of War–Voluntary Funding, 3201 E. Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40, Arlington, TX 76010 or St. Joseph Learning Center, 2075 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville, PA 17901. Kull-Heizenroth Funeral Home, Ashland, is in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.kullfuneral.com.
Published in Republican & Herald from June 25 to June 26, 2012
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