Clarence R. "Mickey" Feest

Left Formation February 3, 2006

Clarence R. "Mickey" Feest found peace and joined his beloved wife Eleanore (nee DeGrace) Feest in eternal life at the age of 85 on Feb. 3, 2006. Preceeded in death by his parents, Clarence J. and Olga E. Feest. Survived by his sister Dorothy Ruth Priem and his brother Richard H. "Pinkey" (Arlene M.) Feest, 6 nieces and nephews and their loving families.

Although he rarely spoke of it, Mickey was a true patriot and hero. A quiet, gentle man, he was a veteran of WWII where he served as a B-17 gunner with the 95th BG, 334th SQ, was shot down in April 1944 and spent 13 months as a POW in the infamous Luft Stalag 17 before being liberated and honorably discharged in 1945. He was awarded the Air Medal and Prisoner of War medals for his service to his country.

He returned to his home in Milwaukee, married Eleanore and worked at American Motors until his retirement. After the loss of his wife in 1988, he led a quiet life and never remarried, preferring instead to wait for the day when they would once again be together. Mickey loved cooking for family, gardening, shing at Sand Bay, and bartending at Harry's Fire Trap.

He was a life member of VFW Post 9378, American Prisoners of War, the 95th Bomb Group Assn., 8th Air Force Historical Society, Milwaukee Barbed Wire Chapter and the Caterpillar Club, an organization of those whose lives had been saved by a parachute.

Mickey refused to get on another airplane unless he had one, and he thought anyone who ew without one was 'nuts.' A man of simple tastes, when Mickey was pressed for what he would like for a holiday gift, would often respond, "A loaf of bread would be nice." Bread was what kept him alive as a POW. He always kept an ample supply of bread and canned goods in his humble home.

A sweet, kind man, Mickey will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to have known him. All who loved Mickey are invited to celebrate his life on Wed., Feb. 8th at 7:30PM. Visitation will be Wed., 4-8PM at the funeral home. Interment Thurs. 2:30 PM, Holy Trinity Cemetery. ALTSTADT - TYBORSKI ERMENC - McLEOD 3801 S. Howell Ave. (414)744-7039 online condolences www.atemfs.com

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) - Tuesday, February 7, 2006