Joseph Marcus Hermanson's Obituary
Marcus Hermanson was born and raised on a farm in Woodville, Wisconsin. His Norwegian-American parents raised five children: Luella, Leonard, Marcus, Clifford, and Reuben.Marcus was especially proud of being part of Woodville High SchoolÂ's All-Conference/All-Tournament Basketball Competition in 1932. After graduation, Marcus attended River Falls State Teachers College, where he received a teaching certificate. He then accepted a position at the Denver one room school house in Hersey, WI, where he served for two years. After a year of additional college coursework, Marcus headed out to California to work in the oil fields. In 1937 he enlisted in the Navy as a seaman and qualified for flight training in Pensacola, Florida. He became a proud naval aviator.MarcusÂ' military career spanned 26 years, in which he was assigned to an aircraft patrol squadron in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Dutch Harbor, Alaska; Commanding Officer of an air transport squadron (West Coast to the Orient); Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station at Miramar, California; Aircraft Equipment Director of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Commanding Officer of the USS Gardiners Bay supporting aircraft squadrons in the Far East; Executive Officer of US Naval Station, Midway Island; Chief of Staff of Antarctic Support Forces during the International Geophysical Year; Chief of Staff Fleet Air Wing 2, BarberÂ's Point, Oahu; Naval District Aviation Inspector General, Great Lakes, Illinois.Marcus accumulated over 9, 000 pilot hours in a variety of naval aircraft, and in all types of weather conditions. In addition to the Air Medal and Commendation Ribbon, Marcus received the American Defense Service Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one operation star, an American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with star, and the United Nations Service Medal.Upon retirement from the Navy in 1963, Marcus embarked upon a second career at the Boeing Aerospace Company, specifically assigned to the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) project.Marcus was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, and brothers Clifford and Leonard. He is survived by his sister Luella Holt; brother Reuben; daughter and son-in-law Lorene and Jerry Richards of North Bend, WA; son Spencer of San Jose, CA; daughter Karen Pedderson of Mequon, WI; six grandchildren: Jeffrey Pedderson, Susan Pedderson, Justin Richards, Brandon Richards, Amanda Crawford, and Marcus William Hermanson; and one great grandchild, Mackenzie Richards.Marcus believed the good things in his life were the result of a good heritage, guidance and sacrifice of Christian parents, and the love and understanding of his family. Marcus has been given his wings to his heavenly home, where he will continue to inspire and guide us.Visitation will be 2-5pm and 7-9pm, Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at Mountain View Funeral Home. Services will be 11:30am Wednesday, February 11, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.
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