Obituaries

Walter Wanninger, 83 of Carroll and formerly of Audubon, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir with Blane Kerkhoff as soloist. Lectors for the funeral mass will be Walt’s granddaughters: Lindsey Wanninger, Taryn Wanninger, and Nichole Wanninger. Gift Bearers will be Walt’s grandchildren, Heather Wanninger and Brett Wanninger. Eucharistic Ministers will be Ken Shibata and Vernell Wittrock. Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Alan Jacobsen, Tom Nielsen, John Nissen, Frank Obermeier, Craig Wanninger, Doug Hilsabeck, and Dale Wagner. Casket Bearers will be Walt’s grandchildren: Keenan Nelson, Kayla Nelson, Amanda Kommes, Lindsey Wanninger, Tyler Wanninger, Nicholas Wanninger, Brett Wanninger, Desiree Wanninger, Nichole Wanninger, Stacey Wanninger, Heather Wanninger, Justin Wanninger, Ryan Wanninger, and Taryn Wanninger; and Walt’s great-grandchildren: Cody Kommes, Derrek Kommes, Elaina Nelson, and Daytin Hogueison. Burial will be at a later date at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Audubon.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 p.m. on Friday where there will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service at 6 p.m. by Holy Spirit Parish.
The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church at noon on Saturday where visitation will resume until time of the funeral mass. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church in Walt’s name which will be used to benefit the Alzheimer’s Unit at St. Anthony Nursing Home. If you wish to mail a memorial please mail to Sharp Funeral Home c/o Walter Wanninger Family, 226 W. 8th St. Carroll, Iowa 51401.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Walt’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Walter was born on July 1, 1929 in Audubon County, a son to John and Hedwig (Obermeier) Wanninger. Walt was one of six children and attended school at Holy Trinity in Templeton, Iowa. Walt and his brothers worked the family farm until being drafted by the United States Army in 1951 during the Korean Conflict. Walt was in the 82nd Airborne Division and completed basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina specializing in parachute assault operations. After completing his training Walt was stationed at Camp Drum in Watertown, New York. While in the army Walt completed 24 parachute missions and was honorably discharged in 1953.
Walt married Marlene Hilsabeck on December 1, 1955 at St. Patrick’s Church in Audubon, Iowa. To this union were 4 children: Rick, Jody, Kurt and Todd.
Walt began working for Emmert Manufacturing Company and worked there for 28 years serving as the plant superintendent. During his career at Emmert’s he aided the company in their successful growth and serviced on a very notable community project, the construction of Albert the Bull.
In 1986 Walt started his own company, Wanninger Manufacturing. Wanninger Manufacturing focused on trailer manufacturing and urethane foam insulation. Walt’s company was successful for more than 20 years insulating hundreds of agricultural buildings and roofs and constructing some 75 trailers, including his EZ-Tote brand. Walt was a member of the Aububon Knights of Columbus and Audubon American Legion.
Survivors include: his wife Marlene of Carroll: one daughter Jody (Lynn) Nelson of Hamlin, IA; three sons: Rick (Lana) Wanninger of Sun City, AZ, Kurt (Angie) Wanninger of Indianapolis, IN, Todd (Jalynn) Wanninger of Carroll, IA; his sisters: Ann Hedgpeth, and Rose (Ted) Vier; and in-laws, Norma Wanninger, Shirley Rank, Donna Wanninger, Violet Hilsebeck, and Doug and Jan Hilsebeck; his grandchildren: Desiree, Nichole, Stacey, and Heather Wanninger of Sun City, AZ, Justin and Ryan Wanninger of Indianapolis, IN, Taryn Wanninger of Chicago, IL, Amanda (Isaac) Kommes of Exira, IA, Kayla Nelson (Dustin Hogueison) of Casey, IA, Keenan (Audrey) Nelson of Brayton, IA, Lindsey Wanninger of Ames, IA, and Tyler, Nicholas, and Brett Wanninger of Carroll, IA; great-grandchildren: Cody and Derrek Kommes, Elaina Nelson and Daytin Hogueison.
Preceding him in death are his parents, brothers: John and Eddie Wanninger; his sister Bertha Lingl; his father and mother-in-law Everett (Dutch) and Naomi Hilsabeck; his brothers-in-law, LaMont Hilsabeck, Don Lingo and Chuck Hedgpeth; and his nephew Marty Hilsabeck.