William Wixom, Sr.

William Lee Wixom, Sr., 81, of Keokuk, died at 3:10 AM Friday, March 31, 2006 at Lexington Square in Keokuk. Mr. Wixom was born March 3, 1925 in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of Isaac Bud and Bertha Mae O'Day Wixom. He married Helen Marie Gardner on November 4, 1978 in Marshalltown, Iowa. She survives. At the age of 18, William Wixom enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force on July 26, 1943. He was trained as an Airplane Armorer Ball Turret Gunner and was stationed at Thorpe Abbotts in England. Staff Sergeant Wixom flew 33 missions with the crew on a B-17 heavy bomber, "The Reluctant Dragon", of the 8th Air Force 100th Bomb Group, the "Bloody 100th" 349th Squadron. In 1943, the average life of an 8th Air Force B-17 crew was eleven missions. In 1943-1945, the 100th lost a total of 229 aircraft. The 100th was not the Group with the highest losses in the 8th, but since its losses came many at a time, it soon acquired the reputation of a hard-luck outfit and the name "The Bloody Hundredth". With all its bad luck, the 100th still earned an enviable record during its time in England. It lead the bombing of Rujkan, Norway which delayed the manufacture of heavy water for the German atomic bomb, st...[more]

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ened Norwegian underground resistance, and earned the Group citations by the Norway government-in-exile, and the British. It participated in all three 8th AF shuttle missions, twice to Russia and once to Africa. For its part in the liberation of France and for mercy missions dropping food to the French Resistance, the 100th was awarded the French Croix de Guerre twice. For dropping food to Warsaw the Group earned a special medal from the Polish government in exile. It received two Presidential Citations. In spite of its losses, the 100th never once went off operations. As Jimmy Doolittle once said, "The 100th was always ready." Staff Sergeant Wixom was discharged on October 8, 1945 and received the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Air Medal G0 440th Headquarters Third Bombardment Division 44 with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal and Overseas Bar. He enjoyed going to Army reunions and keeping in touch with his buddies. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, American Legion Post #41, and Ducks Unlimited. He loved fishing, hunting and trapshooting. He enjoyed flowers and the beauty of the outdoors. He enjoyed playing cards and was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He loved playing with and teasing his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Helen of Keokuk; three children from his marriage to Patricia Ann Bowden, William L. Wixom Jr. and his wife, Marilyn, of Keokuk, Lynda Golafshar and her husband, Houshang, of Keokuk and Cathy Hawthorne and her husband, Lester, of Farmington, Iowa; three stepchildren, Carolyn Patterson and her husband, Dennis, of Keokuk, Rhonda Clark and her husband, Dave, of Carthage, Illinois and Kyle Wellington of Letts, Iowa; sixteen grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; a brother, James Wixom and his wife, Lois, of Keokuk; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Sandra Wixom; a stepson, Terry Wellington; a grandson, Ryan Wixom; a great granddaughter, Allyson Phillips; a brother, Robert Wixom; and three sisters, Doris Piraino, Lois Hanley and Helen R. Hemingway. Funeral services were Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. Emmanuel Dass officiating. Burial with full military rites followed in Keokuk National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Lee County Hospice, or to the donor's choice. Online condolences may be left at www.dejongsfuneralhome.com