William L. "Red" Stewart

William L. "Red"� Stewart, age 86 of Wahoo, died Sunday, November 24, 2012 at his home. He was born February 26, 1926 at Norfolk, NE to William E. and Leah (Thomas) Stewart. Bill moved to Wahoo, with his family, in 1937 and graduated from Wahoo High School in 1944. Three days after his high school graduation, Bill enlisted in the Unites States Navy and was stationed aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater where he took part in missions to Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Hiroshima. He also served in the Amphibious Force of the US Navy Reserve. He was honorably discharged and returned home in 1946 to attend Luther College. Bill then worked for a construction company where he honed his skills as a dragline operator. On November 15, 1953, Bill married Phyllis Smith at the First Presbyterian Church in Wahoo. They were blessed with three children: Jane, Nancy and Wade. In 1967, Bill formed his own construction company. He retired in 1991. Bill was a member of First Presbyterian Church for more than 70 years and a member of the Nebraska Land Improvement Contractors Association for 21 years. He was also a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4502 and the American Legion Post #82 in Wahoo. He was an avid gardener, hunter and fisherman and was awarded a Master Angler Award in 1971. Bill played golf and enjoyed drinking coffee with his friends. He is survived by his wife Phyllis of Wahoo; children Jane (Brian) McReynolds of Lincoln, Nancy (Dr. Lance) Griggs of Torrington, WY, Wade (Annette) Stewart of Wahoo; grandchildren Kyle (Renee) Stewart of Omaha, Marc Stewart (Allie Winklebaur), Jake Stewart, Seth Stewart, all of Wahoo, Megan (Kevin) Watanabe of Denver, CO, and Dane Griggs (Megan Kester) of Lincoln; sisters-in-law Patricia Stewart of Hebron, Karen Stewart of Geneseo, IL, Marjorie Nystrom of Lincoln, Marilyn (Harry) Falke of Wahoo; and brother-in-law Ardven Malchow of Colon. Bill was preceded in death by his parents William E. and Leah (Thomas) Stewart; brothers Jack and Don Stewart; and sister Mary Lou Stewart.