More detail on this person: Wallace Harvey Ekholm, Jr., a 44-year resident of North Tustin, left his earthly home to join our Heavenly Father and his beloved wife of 52 years, Mary Ekholm, on November 16, 2016. He is survived by his three children, Gail Michelsen, Karen Elliott and John Ekholm, and six granddaughters.Known as "Buzz" since he was a young boy, he was born in Superior, Wisconsin on June 16, 1934 to Wallace Ekholm, Sr. and Margaret Ekholm and had an older sister, Janice Ekholm. He attended Superior East High School where he lettered in football. His family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he received an AA in Engineering from Harris Teachers College and met his future bride, Mary. From there he began his 20-year service to our country in the US Marine Corps, becoming an aviator of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. He served bravely in Vietnam, became a helicopter test pilot, flew in the Paris airshow in 1967; earned a BS in Military Science from the University of Omaha, Nebraska and an MS in International Affairs from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island; was awarded various medals including the RVN Cross for Gallantry, Vietnam Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, etc. and retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1975. After USMC retirement, he focused on real estate endeavors and enjoyed spending summers at his beloved cabin in the woods on Horseshoe Lake in Minong, Wisconsin. Other interests included golf, spending time with his family and friends, and traveling. He was a brave, strong, hard-working, funny, handsome, kind and loving man who will be missed greatly by his adoring family.
This information was last updated 12/07/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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