Wilbur Joseph Etbauer

Wil Etbauer, age 74, passed away peacefully with his wife and daughter by his side at his residence in Waldorf, Maryland on August 2, 2018. Born October 17, 1943 in Chamberlain, South Dakota, Wil graduated from Wessington Springs High School in 1961 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University. He worked briefly at Cable Printing Company in Mount Morris, Illinois, then was drafted for the Vietnam War in June of 1967. He completed four weeks of basic training, then transferred to Air Force Officers Training School at Lackland AFB in Texas. In October of that same year, he married Joan Amanda Stofferahn of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Wil and Joan moved to their first military assignment at the Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) in Los Angeles, California. There they were stationed for five years, then transferred to Vandenberg AFB also in California where Wil worked on the Scout Missile System and they stayed for four years. In 1976, Wil was transferred to Headquarters ADCOM to work on the PAVE PAW System in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where their only daughter, Kristin, was born that next year. In August of 1979, the family moved to Norfolk, Virginia where Wil attended the Armed Forces Staff College, then was transferred to work at the Lynden B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, a joint program with the Air Force and NASA that facilitated the Space Shuttle Program. Then in 1983, Wil became the Vice Commander for Satellite Test Operations at Onizuka Air Force Base in Sunnyvale, California. There the family was stationed for six and a half years until Wil was promoted to full Colonel and assigned to be a Deputy Program Manager for the new space and missile warning system, referred to as ASAT, at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. In 1993, Wil retired from the military and went to work for Vista Technologies, Inc. as their Vice President until 1997 when he started work with DESE Research, Inc. still in Hunstville, Alabama. Wil worked at DESE Research for 16 years, eventually retiring as their Senior Vice President and Operations Manager. In 2015, Wil and Joan moved to Waldorf, Maryland to be close to their daughter and son-in-law after spending 25 years in Huntsville. Wil was known by those closest to him as unfailingly kind and a true gentleman. He didn't usually have a lot to say, but when he did, it was either pivotally important or hilariously funny. Wil was a voracious reader and while he had a great intellect and was knowledgeable on many subjects, he was always humble and never arrogant – making it possible for him to have friends in many different walks of life. He was a true lover of the game of golf – both playing it when he could and later watching it on TV. A life-long supporter of the lively arts, he enjoyed all manner of music and theatre, especially those during their time in Huntsville, Alabbama. Also, Wil adored travel. He and Joan were blessed to go on many international cruises and tours, eventually making it to countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Wil is preceeded in death by his parents, Raymond Joseph and Dorothy Maye (Anderson) Etbauer and brother, Dennis Ray Etbauer. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan Etbauer; daughter and son-in-law Kristin and Timothy Wiener of Waldorf, Maryland; sister-in-law, Marilyn Etbauer of Rochester, Minnesota; mother-in-law, Barbara Stofferahn of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; brothers of his wife and sisters-in-law, Gary and LeeAnn Stofferahn of DeSmet, South Dakota, Terry Stofferehn of Lake Norden, South Dakota, and Ken and Pam Stofferahn of Ridgway, Colorado. He will also be grieved and remembered by his nieces and nephews, extended family, friends, and former colleagues. It was Wil's desire to be cremated and have his remains interred at the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery. A date for a funeral mass in Waldorf, Maryland and Interment Service will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Catholic Charities (catholiccharities.org).

Wilbur Joseph Etbauer

October 17, 1943 - August 2, 2018