Obituary of Michael G. Walo

LITTLE FALLS - Michael G. Walo, 82 formerly of 30 Summit Ave., Little Falls and since May of 2005 a resident of Valley Health Services, Herkimer passed away peacefully Monday, November 27, 2006 at that residence. He was born on June 12, 1924 in Little Falls the son of the late Michael and Anna (Miko) Walo. After attending Little Falls High School, Mr. Walo volunteered for the US Marine Corps in May of 1942. He served with honor in the Pacific Theater of operations most notably in the key battles for the islands of Guadalcanal and Tarawa. On a note of particular interest, in October of 1942 while stationed near New Guinea on the island of Funa Futi, Mr. Walo took part in the rescue of noted WW II flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker after his B-17 crash landed in the ocean. Rickenbacker and his crew, who were on a secret mission to deliver a classified message to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, spent three weeks adrift in the ocean before finally being located and rescued by Mr. Walo's First Marine Unit. When Mr. Walo returned stateside in 1945, he was assigned duty in the Marine Military Police at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. It was during that time he met his wife to be Margaret Lucille Carey, who was residing in Norfolk after moving from South Carolina that same year. In May of 1946, Mr. Walo was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps. Shortly thereafter, on May 26, 1946, the couple was united in marriage at the Holy trinity Lutheran Church, Little Falls with the Rev. George Billy officiating. The couple shared a union of 54 years before Mrs. Walo's passing on January 24, 2001. Mr. Walo, was employed for the former Chris Hansen Laboratories, currently named Redco, in 1947 and remained there for 34 years until his retirement in 1981. Mr. Walo received numerous awards and corporate recognition throughout his career for his contributions to improving the efficiency of the warehouse traffic system and streamlining the overall product distribution process. Mr. Walo loved outdoor activities and was an avid sportsman and sports fan. As a young man, he was enthusiastic about playing fast pitch softball as a left-handed pitcher for Hansen's and numerous traveling teams in the industrial leagues of the 1940's and 50's. His particular passion however, was trout fishing in the rivers, lakes and streams of the surrounding area. Mr. Walo had the uncanny knack of being able to coax the biggest fish out of the most unlikely spots. Even through hip replacement surgery later in life prevented him from physically traveling out to the rivers, lakes and streams, it didn't prevent him from keeping family and friends constantly entertained with stories of past fishing adventures. He was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Little Falls where he was continuously involved with numerous church activities. In his later years, Mr. Walo also spent countless hours helping new members of the Lutheran clergy familiarize themselves with the Little Falls area, its customs and its cultures. In particular Mr. Walo sincerely enjoyed teaching them Slovak words and phrases which helped them communicate with and endear themselves to the Slovak speaking members of the congregation. Mr. Walo was a member of the S/Sgt. Steve Stefula Post # 4612 VFW, Little Falls where he was past Lieutenant Post Commander. He is survived by his daughter Scarlett A. Woolver and her husband Carl, Little Falls, his son Michael L. Walo, Irvine, Calif., a brother Paul Walo, Valley Health Services, Herkimer and a sister Anna Johnson, Henderson, NV, 5 grandchildren, Marian Ellis and her husband Patrick, Portsmouth, NH, Michelle Billings and her husband Marc, Schenectady, NY, Jason A. Woolver and his wife Joette, Rome, NY, Jennifer Thompson and her husband Jim, Edison, NJ, Jason M. Woolver, Rochester, 5 great grandchildren Samuel I. and Liam H. Ellis, Jack S. and twins William and Abigail Thompson, a nephew Kenneth M. Johnson, of San Diego, Calif. and many cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 10:00 am from the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, E. Gansevoort Street, Little Falls with the Rev. Carl Evans, Pastor of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Little Falls officiating. Interment will take place in Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Little Falls in the spring where full military honors will be accorded by the US Marine Corps. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann Street, Little Falls on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 from 5-8 pm and to attend the funeral services Thursday morning. In lieu of flowers it is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Mr. Walo be considered to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 512 E. Gansevoort St., Little Falls, NY 13365 or to Valley Health Services, 690 W. German St., Herkimer, NY 13350 Envelopes are also available at the funeral home for this purpose. Members of the S/Sgt. Steve Stefula Post # 4612, VFW will call in a body at the funeral home on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm to conduct their service.