Howard Post

VISITATION

4-6 p.m., Wednesday, March 19 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel and from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Thursday March 20 at English Lutheran Church of Bateman, 20588 County Hwy X, Chippewa Falls.

SERVICE

10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 20 at English Lutheran Church of Bateman, 20588 County Hwy X, Chippewa Falls.

Howard H. (Howie) Post died Saturday, March 15, 2014, at Wisconsin Veterans Home in Chippewa Falls, under the care of St. Joseph Hospice.

Howie was born December 7, 1922, at the home of his parents, Hugo and Irma (Cheney) Post, on 112 John Street, Chippewa Falls. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church.

Howie attended Chestnut, North Side, and First Ward elementary schools, and Chippewa Falls Junior and Senior High Schools. He was on the high school golf team for three years and graduatedin 1940.

In 1942, Howie enlisted in the Army. He applied for and was accepted into the cadet program in the Army Air Corps. While in training, he married Grayce Wilcox of Cornell, Wisconsin, on June 26, 1943, in the chapel on the San Marcos, Texas, air base.

When he graduated from the cadet program in August, 1943, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to bombardier school, then sent to Grand Island, Nebraska, for combat training in B29s. In January1945, he was sent to the island of Tinian in the Pacific. As a member of the 6th and 505th bomb groups, Howie completed 35 combat missions from Tinian to Japan. His final mission was flying in a parade of B-29s over the Battleship Missouri on VJ Day as the peace accord was signed. Howie and his flight crew were awarded two Air Medals, three Oakleaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2010 Howie had the opportunity to make the Honor Flight for W.W.II veterans to Washington, D.C.

After the war, Howie came home to Grayce and daughter Connie. In the years following, Howie and Grayce had two more children, Becky and Dean. Howie worked several years for a Chippewa Falls finance company before opening a real estate and insurance business with Al Perrenoud. After 1957, when Mr. Perrenoud passed away, Howie continued as sole proprietor of the business.

Howie was active in the Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Board of Realtors, serving as secretary and then as president from 1965 to 1966. In 1966 he was honored by that group as Realtor of the Year. He served six years on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Realtors Association and also attended a number of national conventions. In 2003, he was awarded Realtor Emeritus status for over 50 years as a realtor.

Howie played a significant role in the growth and development of Chippewa Falls. In 1962, then-mayor James Knight appointed him a charter member of the citys planning commission. He served for eight years on the commission, resigning in 1970 when he moved to Lake Wissota.

He was the developer of two subdivisions on the West Hill: Ridgewood Manors and Bluff View Estates. In 1970, in association with two Eau Claire Realtors, Howie helped open the first housing for seniors in Chippewa Falls, Bridgewater Apartments, which he then managed for several years. He was also involved in the development of Chippewas downtown business district and was a member and first president of Indianhead Investment Corporation, which contributed to that development.

He was a member of the VFW, Order of the Elks, American Legion, United Commercial Travelers, the Air Force Navigators Observers Association, the 20th Air Force Association, and the Military Officers Association of America.

Howie was an avid golfer, beginning as a teen-ager and continuing to play into his eighties. He won the Wissota Elks Club championship in 1955 and 1959, and was runner-up several times. He shot a hole-in-one in 1964, and he shot his age (77!) on the new Elks Club course. He loved playing Schmier with his family and friends, gardening in his yard, and watching the Packers. He was a proud owner of a share of Packers stock.

Howie and Grayce enjoyed boating on Lake Wissota and traveling to numerous places including New York City, Arizona, Florida, Washington, D.C., the New England Coast, the Canadian Rockies, Hawaii, and Mexico. For their 25th anniversary, they were gifted with a hot-air balloon ride over Stillwater, Minnesota. In June 2012, Howie and Grayce celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. They were longtime members of English Lutheran Church of Bateman.

Howie is survived by daughters, Connie (Kent) Sprague of Chippewa Falls and Becky (Dave Maddocks) Post of La Crosse, Wisconsin; grandchildren Kristi Sprague, Erin Sprague, Jason (Kim) Fredricksen, Vanessa (Todd Bennett) Post, Josh Huls; and great-grandchildren Eli, Safina, Grace, Colin, Emilia, Brinn, and Collin.

He is also survived by his sister Lois Eichinger; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Post, Doris Post, Lorraine Wilcox, Joyce Wilcox, Karen Wilcox; and brothers-in-law, Wayne Wilcox, Eugene Wilcox, and Ron (Nancy) Wilcox, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Grayce on August 3, 2012; son, Dean; brothers, LeRoy and Vern Toad; and sister, Arlene (Post) Fleming.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Wisconsin Veterans Home for their excellent care of Howie during his final weeks.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 20, at English Lutheran Church of Bateman with Pastor Deborah Nissen officiating. Interment with military honors conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m., Wednesday at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls, and one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Irvine Park, VFW Post 1038, or Chippewa Foundation.

AFTERSERVICE

A funeral service for Howard H. Post, 91, of Chippewa Falls was held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 20 at English Lutheran Church of Bateman. Pastor Deborah Nissen officiated and music was provided by Howards daughter, Becky Post and Mary LaLiberte. Personal reflections were shared by daughter, Connie Sprague and family friend, Jack Rokser. Casket bearers were Kristi and Erin Sprague, Vanessa Post, Jason Fredrickson, Rik Greenseth and Jack Rokser. Interment with military honors conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council was in Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls and Thomas Eder Jr. bugled taps.