A funeral Mass for William C. “Bill” Elbert, 76, of Whittemore, is planned for 11:00 AM Tuesday at Divine Mercy Parish – St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Whittemore. Visitation will begin 10:00 AM in St. Michael’s church hall. The service will be live streamed on the Oakcrest Funeral Services Facebook page. Burial will take place following the service at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Whittemore where military rites will be conducted by the Whittemore American Legion Seely – Walsh Post #425. A lunch will be served at the Whittemore American Legion after the graveside service.
William Christopher, son of Harold and Olga (Gales) Elbert, was born May 6, 1946, in Whittemore, Iowa. Bill’s mother died when he was only five years old. Bernice Stalzer became his stepmom after his father’s marriage to her. Bill attended school at St. Michael’s Academy in Whittemore and graduated from Garrigan High School with the Class of 1964. He was drafted into the Army in 1966. Bill served in Vietnam after being drafted. He received his training in Ft. Riley, Kansas and arrived in Vietnam with that same group on September 27, 1966. Out of the group of 160 men, only 12 made it one year, and 34 are listed on the Vietnam Wall. Bill was wounded March 4, 1967, and spent three months in the 106 General Hospital in Japan. He was then transferred to Korea for six months where he worked to supply food for GIs in Korea. Upon his honorable and decorated discharge, Bill returned home to Whittemore. He owned an acreage there and farmed row crops next to his home place for over 50 years. Bill also worked for Hormel in Algona for 35 years.
Bill enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially prairie dogs. He liked to barbecue meat, even roasting whole hogs, and was especially fond of pork loin. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Whittemore, the Whittemore American Legion Seely – Walsh Post #425, Whittemore Legion Riders, and the V.F.W. of Armstrong. Bill never met a stranger and could talk with anyone. He was a giving man and was willing to help anyone who needed it.
Bill died December 17, 2022, at Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona.
Survivors include his children Tina Elbert (Ric Sullivan) of Mason City and David Elbert of Algona; Matt and Lee Elbert of Whittemore and other nieces and nephews; Nolan and Allison Elbert, who are great nephew and niece but consider him Grandpa; brothers and sisters: Kathie (Carl) Hunter of Northfield, MN, Shirley (Bud) Kephart of Des Moines, Linda (Phil) Lind of Algona, Marcia (Dale) Place of Lake City, MN, Julie Leigh of Richland, WA, Walt (Dar) Elbert of Emmetsburg, Karen Reinsbach of Sioux Falls, SD, Dan Elbert of Florissant, CO, Brian (Doris) Elbert of Freeport, TX; and sister-in-law Deanne Elbert of Mission, TX.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Harold Elbert.
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