William Abresch Sr's Obituary
William Bert Abresch, 93, passed away March 27, in Wesley Chapel Florida. William was born on August 13, 1931, in Racine Wisconsin to Samuel Claude Abresch of Somers Wisconsin and Della Simmons of Blanchard, Idaho. William spent his early childhood living in Garden Grove, CA before moving back to Somers WI. In Somers, William lived with his paternal grandmother Mary Maude McFarlane Mueller’s family and their dairy farm. Growing up a dairy farm, William developed a strong work ethic when tasked with various jobs in tending field crops. William later graduated from Washington Park High School in 1950. After finishing high school, William completed coursework at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. While still in school William began his work career with American Motors contributing to the assembly of Rambler vehicles as well as participating part time in construction projects in the Chicago area as an Ironworker. The advent of the Korean Conflict prompted William to join the U.S. Navy. After basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, William served for 8 years in the U.S. Navy in a variety of roles, including as a member of a crash crew at the Naval Station Oceana Fire Department, Virgina Beach, VA and later worked as an electrician’s mate while serving aboard the oil tanker USS Waccamaw (AO-109). William participated in the oiler’s fourth tour with the US 6th Fleet of the Mediterranean and later in the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. An avid reader and having an interest in history and science, William often visited historical and cultural sites when on tour with the Navy such as Rome, Vatican City, Athens, and North Africa. Later in his Navy service, William served aboard the Bluebird class minesweeper USS Thrush (MSC-204) as an electrician’s mate and came to Coco Solo Panama in 1959.
While stationed in Coco Solo, Panama, William met and married Severina (Lina) Franco of Sona, Veraguas Provence, Panama and raised four children. Finding a home in the Panama Canal Zone and after serving 8 service in the U.S. Navy William came to work in the Canal Zone Postal Division in October 1962. While moving on from a Navy career, William’s navy experiences served as a foundation of involvement in the American Legion, especially with activities of the David Lee Post 552 of Somers Wisconsin. In the Canal Zone, William served in a variety of roles for the Postal System, including general foreman duties at the Balboa Post Office in the Panama Canal Zone. In 1979, William transferred to the USAF 4400 Air Postal Squadron and managed postal operations at several military installations in the Canal Zone area until retiring in January of 1985. After emigrating to Temple Terrace, Florida, William embarked on another career serving in a variety of full time and part-time clerk and administrative support roles at the University of South Florida from 1986 until 2014 in departments such as Auxiliary Services Central Receiving and Muma College of Business Dean’s Office operations.
In retirement, William and his family often took long road trips to visit family and friends in locations across the Midwestern and Eastern US such as Chicago and St. Louis. William continued with his interest in learning by visiting historical sites and museums while visiting various places while traveling with family. Besides traveling, Wiliam enjoyed working with his hands and finished numerous wood working projects in his homework-space. Having a sharp memory and with a gift for storytelling, William often regaled listeners with his childhood and teenage memories of Great Depression and World War Two Eras in Wisconsin. William is survived by his half-sister Share Lynn Corcoran and half-brother Michael Arthur Corcoran of Seattle, Washington. Stepson Ernie Abresch of Albuquerque NM, daughter Zoraida Abresch of Santa Barbara, CA, son William "Bill" Abresch Jr. and John Abresch both of Zephyrhills, Florida. To pass the thought of caring for the less fortunate the family would ask that charitable donations can be made to The Salvation Army or to Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church of Seffner, Florida.
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