Washington County, WI – On Saturday, May 20, 2023, Army veteran Gerald Stollenwerk, 89, of Hartford, WI, will be joining 14 other Washington County vets on the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight to Washington D.C.
Gerald Stollenwerk was drafted into the United States Army at the age of 23. He left for basic training in Colorado and received orders for Ft. Gordon in Augusta, GA.
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Stollenwerk was born in Milwaukee and attended high school at St. John’s Cathedral and went to college at Marquette University, earning a major in accounting and a minor in philosophy.
During his term of service, Stollenwerk served as an educator in the Signal Corps teaching courses such as teletype, communications in the field, tape relay, and much more. He attained the rank of PFC upon his honorable discharge. His wife accompanied him during this time, and they lived off-post in Georgia.
Stollenwerk reminisced about a time when the Masters Golf Tournament was held in Augusta, and he was selected to work as part of the crowd control team. “It was a pretty exciting time,” he said.
Stollenwerk is one of 15 veterans from Washington County, WI
that are traveling on the May 20 Honor Flight
Stollenwerk was married to Patricia for 60 years, “You don’t hear that much anymore.” Patricia passed away eight years ago. Together they had five children: Scott, Carrie, Noel, Keith, and Lynette (who passed away from cancer). He has 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
His son, Keith, who lives in Palmyra, will be his escort on the Honor Flight.
In the past, Stollenwerk served as the Village of Kewaskum President and was president twice and treasurer once with Kiwanis.
Following his time in the Army, Stollenwerk was the Corporate Director of IT for Regal Ware in Kewaskum for 26 years. Prior to that, he worked for Ladish Company in Cudahy for 12 years.
“I’ve never been to Washington, D.C. and haven’t been on a plane in 15 years,” said Stollenwerk.
“I’ve heard it’s a tremendous experience and I’m so pleased my son worked it out,” he said.
While 15 veterans from Washington County, WI are on the May 20, 2023 flight, two have asked that their names not be published.
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is the Milwaukee area hub of the Honor Flight Network. Founded in 2008, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight has flown more than 7,600 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans from southeastern Wisconsin on a one-day, all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C.
