Arizona Obituary Archive

Search      Post Obituary


Willard E. (Wil) Staub

Posted 2017-02-22 by Judy Wight Branson
The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, page 8a

Willard (Wil) E. Staub, age 93, of Broomfield, Colorado passed away at home on Feb. 7, 2017. He was born April 10, 1923, in Sandusky, Ohio.

He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Mary Jo Staub; daughters, Nancy Staub, Susan McLean and Betsy Grainger; grandchildren, Ruston and Jessie McLean, James, Kristen and Lauren Grainger; son-in-laws, Donald McLean and Thomas Grainger.

Wil grew up with a love of music and started playing the drums in elementary school in Ohio. In February of 1943 at the age of 20 he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. He served aboard the USS Samuel Chase (APA-26). During the day, he had basic duties and at night he played in the Amphibian Band entertaining the troops in the European, African and Middle Eastern arena until his Honorable Discharge in January of 1946.

The impact on Wil as a participant in D-Day at the invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944 was a theme he shared throughout his life by speaking to groups such as the Boy Scouts and Veterans organizations. On D-Day he piloted one of the Higgins boats, a craft that landed troops of the famous First Division, the “Big Red One,” on the Omaha Beach assault area. With his memories from this experience, Wil felt strongly that younger generations needed to understand the importance of what happened on D-Day.

Wil lived his life as a devoted and loving husband, father and friend. His sense of humor, integrity, commitment and perseverance will continue to be a role model to our family and to all that had the pleasure to know him. He was a master story teller who delighted in making people laugh. His hobbies included restoring WWII 1940s military jeeps which were featured in parades honoring our country. Rest in peace. You are loved beyond words. A life well lived.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held in May with the United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard in attendance. They will honor all of us by paying respect to our father, husband and friend, Wil Staub, and to all who have served in the Armed Forces of our wonderful country, The United States of America.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the veterans program of your choice.

Information provided by survivors.




Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.

Questions About This Project?