William X Mohatt

William “Bill” Mohatt, age 87, of Broken Bow, passed away on November 26, 2009, at Heritage Hall at Melham Medical Center. William Xavier Mohatt was born in a sod home five miles east of Anselmo, NE on February 9, 1922. He was the first son and fifth child of Charles J. and Anna E. Bamesberger Mohatt. Bill grew to manhood in Custer County in and around the Anselmo and Merna area. He attended high school in Broken Bow and Anselmo, graduating from Anselmo with the Class of 1939. After graduation and to supplement the family income, Bill joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and served 18 months at the Camp in Broken Bow and then in Alliance, NE in 1941 and 1942 helping build the Air Base. Bill answered the call of his Country and served in the U.S. Army from November 2, 1942, to November 2, 1945. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant from the First Army, 48th Brigade, Battery C of the 226th Searchlight Battalion. He served in the European Theater from June 1944 to July 1945, landing on Utah Beach in Normandy, and served as section leader on detached duty with the First Anti-Mortar Combat Team attached to the 13th Field Observation Battalion of the First Army. This Team pioneered the tracking of enemy mortar shells with radar and relaying their position of launch to the U.S. artillery batteries. He is the holder of the American Theater Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, with 4 bronze battle stars for the battles of Northern France, Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland, and Central Europe, and the Victory Medal. He received his Honorable Discharge at Fort Sill, OK. On June 6, 2004, the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Bill was presented a Certificate of Appreciation by the French Consul General on behalf of the French government for helping liberate France from Nazi Germany. Upon returning from the service, Bill worked for Tom Butler’s Standard Service and Sorensen Electric and, beginning in 1951, was employed for 13 years as an electrical lineman for Broken Bow Municipal Utilities. In 1964, Bill was appointed Custer County Veterans Service Officer, the position he held for 26 years until his retirement in 1990. He was Past President and Secretary of the Nebraska Association of County Veterans Service Officers and he served many years as Post Service Officer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts in Broken Bow. Bill was always proud of his service to his Country, as was his family, and being able to assist other veterans and their families. On June 6, 1950, Bill and Mary Lou Mason were united in marriage at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow. They were blessed with three children: Judith Anne, Michael Charles and Jeanne Marie. Bill was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow, serving as Trustee, a member of the Parish Council, Eucharistic Minister, and Altar Server for funeral Masses for many years. Bill also served as sexton at St. Joseph’s Cemetery for over 20 years. Bill was a life member and Past Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3576; life member of American Legion Post 126; charter member of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge; life member and Past Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council #2388; charter and life member of Bishop Paschang Assembly of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus; life member of B.P.O. Elks #1688; and Trustee of the Veterans Memorial Board for many years. Bill enjoyed visiting and spending time with his children and grandchildren and helping host Mohatt family gatherings. He and Mary also enjoyed traveling in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada and were privileged to attend several Battery C reunions over the years. In 2003, Bill and Mary moved to Liberty Square Apartments at the Melham Medical Center complex. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Ernestine Hickey, Frances McCarthy, and Patricia Dworak; brother Carl; and daughter Jeanne Marie. Surviving are his beloved wife, Mary; daughter and son-in-law Judy and Howard Person of Littleton, CO; son and daughter-in-law Mike and Connie Mohatt of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren Tara Mohatt Benson and husband Scott and their children Alexandra, Blake, and Chase of Lincoln, NE, Sean Mohatt and wife Reena and their children Cooper and Carly of Omaha, NE, and Manie Person Lease and husband E.J. and their children Anna, Isaiah, and Elizabeth of Denver, CO; sisters, Mary Schmitz of Broken Bow, Charline (Art) Bendig of Kearney, Anastasia (Dillard) Gates of Vancouver, WA, and Joan (Jack) Hammond of Houston, TX; sister-in-law Alta Mohatt of Lincoln, NE and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Geraldine and Harvey Holub of Mendota, IL; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Memorials may be directed to the Custer County Foundation for the Jeanne M. Mohatt Memorial Scholarship Fund. Funeral services will be held Tuesday December 1, 2009 at 10:30 AM in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow with Father Jim Hunt officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors and Elks Rites. Visitation will be held Monday November 30 8 Am to 8 Pm at Govier Bros. Mortuary. Rosary will be held Monday evening at 7:00 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow.