Wolfgang Lied

(Taken from his obituary)

Wolfgang was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on June 6, 1927. He was the middle of three children born to August and Katharina (Sommer) Lied.

Wolfgang was drafted into the German Army in 1943 at the age of 16. He was assigned the position of range finder on a Flugabwehr-Kanone aircraft defense cannon, or FlaK 18. His commanders believed his good vision and strong math skills made him a good fit for such a demanding position. He later served briefly in the Luftwaffe and then the infantry. The end of the war found Wolfgang in Denmark, where he had to make his way home on foot, in an occasional farm wagon, or by finding a train that was still running.

Wolfgang spoke English and, after the war ended, he worked as a translator for the U.S. Army, becoming acquainted with many GIs.

Wolfgang was invited to come to the United States by R.L. Anderson of Washington, Ill., in 1948. Mr. Anderson and others raised funds to enable Wolfgang to attend Bradley University, where he earned a diploma in mechanical engineering in 1950.

During his stay in the U.S., Wolfgang was a frequent speaker at local service clubs, where listeners were always eager to hear his stories of childhood in Germany and wartime experiences.

Wolfgang returned to Germany, where he met and married Inge Fuchs in 1951.

Wolfgang, Inge, and their new son, Michael, returned to the U.S. via steamship, with all their earthly belongings in a single steamer trunk. Wolfgang and Inge later welcomed a second son, Walter, in 1956, while living in America.

Wolfgang, Inge, and Michael became proud U.S. citizens in 1959.

Wolfgang worked for Honeywell Inc. in Peoria, Ill., for more than 30 years. During his career, he held positions as a draftsman, designer, construction manager, and lead engineer, developing HVAC and security systems for commercial buildings. He was respected by his co-workers and many union tradesmen on construction sites.

Wolfgang was invariably upbeat and friendly, always ready to crack a joke or make a bad pun. He was very environmentally minded, and once campaigned to save a large, rare, mature purple beech tree in the parking area of what is now Lindy's Market near the square. Thanks to his efforts, the tree was spared, and when the parking lot was constructed, it encircled the tree's massive trunk.

He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, household projects, photography, traveling, and vacationing in northern Michigan.

Wolfgang and his family periodically visited relatives in Germany, and he welcomed his German family members on several trips to the U.S.

Wolfgang authored a book detailing the history of the St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Washington, Ill.  He was particularly qualified for this task because he could read the old church documents written in antiquated German script.

His adult life exemplified the classic American immigrant success story.

Wolfgang was a man deserving of admiration for his accomplishments, and he lived his life with modesty and respect for others. He touched many lives in his lifetime and was a good citizen of the earth.

Wolfgang Amadeus Lied passed away at 9:50 a.m. July 16, 2011, at his home.  His contributions to Washington, as well as his character and human spirit, should never be forgotten.