William "Bill" Albert Gugelman was born on October 5, 1911 the son of Fredrick Gugelman and Adelaide Clement Gugelman in rural Bern, Kansas. Bill attended schools in the Nemaha Country through the eighth grade, helped his father on the farm, was employed by the Rock Island Railroad for 3 years, served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1941 to 1945, then returned to Bern to work as a mechanic in Bill Strahm's garage for 18 years. Bill was custodian of the Bern High School and Elementary School for 11 years retiring in 1975. Bill was a member of the United Methodist Church of Bern, a 50 year member of the Knights of Phythias Lodge, a city councilman of Bern for 12 years, an active member of the Bern Fire Department for 20 years and honorary member. Bill was a member of the Charles Fankhauser American Legion Post #326 of Bern, serving as commander for several years and was commander when the Avenue of Flags was completed. He was a member of the Bern Sportsman Club and played on a Bern baseball team for several years. Bill was married to Opal Marteney on September 20, 1947 at Alma, Kansas. They lived in Bern for 55 years, moved to the Apostolic Christian Apartments at Sabetha in 2002. Bill died on November 8, 2006 at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha at the age of 95. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers, Alvin "Bud" Gugelman, Merle "Jack" Gugelman and Raymond Gugelman; 3 sisters, an infant sister, Viola Gugelman, Florence Brunner and Hazel Strahm. Bill is survived by his wife, Opal Gugelman of Sabetha; one son, Dan Gugelman of Prescott, Arizona; two daughters, Debra McClain of Sabetha and DeeAnn Grimes of Topeka; two sisters, Mildred Tegtmeier of Pawnee City, Nebraska and Marjorie Allison of Seneca and 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Funeral services will be Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 10:30 A.M. at the Bern United Methodist Church. A family visitation will be Friday evening 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. at the Popkess Mortuary Chapel in Sabetha. The interment will be in the Bern Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Charles Fankhauser American Legion Post #326 of Bern. Memorial contributions may be made to the Apostolic Christian Home or the Bern United Methodist Church sent in care of the funeral home.
Published in Topeka Capital-Journal on Nov. 9, 2006