James Henry Vollstedt
James Henry Vollstedt, age 97, passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at his residence. He was the youngest of seven children of August and Minnie (Beyerstedt) Vollstedt, and was born on December 18, 1918 in New Holstein, WI, where he graduated from High School in 1936. After working a year at the former Lauson Company (now Tecumseh Products Co.) in New Holstein, he entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he completed his study of Civil Engineering in 1941, and began working as an Army Ordnance Inspector for the Chicago Ordnance District. On April 10, 1943 he married Mary Lou Muenster, a long-time friend from their high school days together at New Holstein High School.
In response to demands of World War II, Mr. Vollstedt volunteered for induction into the Army beginning active duty on July 12, 1943 and was assigned to the 333rd Engineer Regiment. He served in the European Theatre, building hospital camps in England until D-Day, then constructing port facilities in Cherbourg, France, to supply the American forces fighting in Normandy and Northern France. His unit also built and operated prisoner-of-war camps in Normandy, using German prisoners as part of the unit’s labor force. After the Battle of the Bulge he was reassigned as a replacement in the 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, mechanized a unit attached to the American First Army, and served with that unit in its advance across Western Germany to the Elbe River and Germany’s surrender. After such surrender he was assigned to the various duties in Germany and France until being mustered out of the Army and discharged on December 31, 1945.
After returning home he began work with the County Surveyor for Fond du Lac County, George Marshall; upon Mr. Marshall’s death in 1949, he was appointed to fill the vacant office and was subsequently elected to that office several times. Work during this period included various civil engineering projects for village units in the County, as well as many property surveys. In April of 1957 he accepted a position on the City of Fond du Lac’s Engineering Staff as Assistant City Engineer. In 1962 he was appointed Deputy Director of Public Works and served the city in that capacity until his retirement in mid-1984. Mr. Vollstedt was a Registered Land Surveyor and a Registered Professional Engineer, licensed to practice in the State of Wisconsin, throughout his working career.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou, in 1997; his parents; four sisters and two brothers. He is survived by four children, Thomas Vollstedt, Barbara McDonald, Jeffrey (Debra) Vollstedt, Steven (Diane) Vollstedt; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.
Visitation will take place on Friday, May 6, 2016 from 5-7 P.M. at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 N. Park Ave, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Cremation has taken place. Private family interment will take place on Saturday at New Holstein City Cemetery.
Additional information and guestbook can be found at www.ueckerwitt.com