Wilbur was 87 when he passed away at Heartland Country Village in Black Earth after a long and arduous struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Born to Leslie & Ethel (Kohl) Stites in LaRose, IL. He graduated from Magnolia (IL) High School.
He enlisted in the Armed Forces in the summer of 1941 and was inducted into service in the fall of that year. After extensive training, he was assigned to the crew of William E. Lofton as waist gunner. After embarking from Camp Kilmer, NJ, they eventually were stationed at the 8th Air Force base at Old Buckingham, Norfolk, England. The crew flew combat missions over Germany in B-24 Liberators. On the 17th mission, their plane was severely damaged and they were forced to bail out in Belgium within four miles of enemy territory. After an R and R leave, they returned to duty and completed the required 35 missions before returning to the States in Feb. 1945.
In Apr. 21, 1945, he married Jeane Sorchych in DePue, IL. After short working stints at the John Deere Plow Co., Moline and New Jersey Zinc Co., DePue, Wilbur returned to his studies at the University of IL in Champaign - Urbana, graduating in 1951. Upon graduation, the IL Conservation Department recruited him and he established "Outdoors in Illinois" radio and television shows for them. In 1956, he joined the WI Conservation Department to set up similar programs in Wisconsin. Working in conjunction with Dean Tvedt and Staber Reese, he spent the next 20 years producing "Wisconsin Outdoors" radio and television shows which were shown extensively throughout WI, IL, MN and even one station in TX. When those programs were discontinued, Gov. Warren Knowles asked that he be assigned to work with him on the Outdoor Recreation Acts Program and he was proud to do so. Monona was the Stites' first home in Wisconsin. In 1957, they moved to the McFarland area. Wilbur became very active in the McFarland Lutheran Church, serving on the council and several committees including the building committee. He was especially proud to complete study and qualify to teach the Bethel Bible Series.
In 1973, the family moved to rural Black Earth where they have resided to the present. Wilbur was a co-founder and charter member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers and served as president in 1959. He held memberships in Outdoor Writers of America and the American Association of Conservation Information from whom he received an Award of Merit in 1956 "for outstanding work for the preparation and transcription of the 'weekly radio program' 'Outdoors in Illinois'."
He holds membership in the Second Air Division Assn., the 453rd Bomb Group Assn., 8th AF Historical Society, and the Air Force Association. He was a past member of the Madison Press Club and was their "Madison Public Relations Man of 1970." In 1986 his crew was honored at the Yakima Air Show and seven of the crew met there. While there he learned of the 2nd Air Div. Association, and promptly joined. He and Jeane traveled twice to England and to numerous venues in the U.S. with that group. In 1990, his bomb group (453rd) decided to meet separately. When Wilbur suggested they have a newsletter, he was promptly "volunteered" to publish it. He and Jeane have continued with that publication, starting the 20th year in 2009. Wilbur was an excellent marksman and served as a gunner at retriever dog trials for many years. He was an avid upland game hunter as well as a fly fisherman. He delighted in fishing for smallmouth bass in the small streams in his native Illinois. He was a member of the DNR golf league and continued that pastime for many years after his retirement in 1984. He was proud to claim as personal friends noted outdoorsmen and writers, Tim Eisele, Bill Stokes, Homer Circle (Field and Stream), George Laycock (Nat'l Geographic), and John Madson and Charlie Gilham (Winchester Firearms) as well as Roger Freeman of Sussex, England, author of "The Mighty Eighth." He also claimed friendships with England, France, Belguim and most of the 48 contiguous states. He was also acquainted with the late Governor Knowles with whom he hunted several times. Wilbur's father passed away in 1973; his mother in 1991 at age 98. He was also predeceased by a brother, Leslie K. Stites; a sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Marion "Jack" Hefner.
He leaves behind his wife, a daughter, a son and his wife, granddaughter, grandson, son-in-law, 16 nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the Gunderson Cross Plains Funeral Home, Cross Plains. Private burial was in Highland Memory Gardens, Madison.
He enlisted in the Armed Forces in the summer of 1941 and was inducted into service in the fall of that year. After extensive training, he was assigned to the crew of William E. Lofton as waist gunner. After embarking from Camp Kilmer, NJ, they eventually were stationed at the 8th Air Force base at Old Buckingham, Norfolk, England. The crew flew combat missions over Germany in B-24 Liberators. On the 17th mission, their plane was severely damaged and they were forced to bail out in Belgium within four miles of enemy territory. After an R and R leave, they returned to duty and completed the required 35 missions before returning to the States in Feb. 1945.
In Apr. 21, 1945, he married Jeane Sorchych in DePue, IL. After short working stints at the John Deere Plow Co., Moline and New Jersey Zinc Co., DePue, Wilbur returned to his studies at the University of IL in Champaign - Urbana, graduating in 1951. Upon graduation, the IL Conservation Department recruited him and he established "Outdoors in Illinois" radio and television shows for them. In 1956, he joined the WI Conservation Department to set up similar programs in Wisconsin. Working in conjunction with Dean Tvedt and Staber Reese, he spent the next 20 years producing "Wisconsin Outdoors" radio and television shows which were shown extensively throughout WI, IL, MN and even one station in TX. When those programs were discontinued, Gov. Warren Knowles asked that he be assigned to work with him on the Outdoor Recreation Acts Program and he was proud to do so. Monona was the Stites' first home in Wisconsin. In 1957, they moved to the McFarland area. Wilbur became very active in the McFarland Lutheran Church, serving on the council and several committees including the building committee. He was especially proud to complete study and qualify to teach the Bethel Bible Series.
In 1973, the family moved to rural Black Earth where they have resided to the present. Wilbur was a co-founder and charter member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers and served as president in 1959. He held memberships in Outdoor Writers of America and the American Association of Conservation Information from whom he received an Award of Merit in 1956 "for outstanding work for the preparation and transcription of the 'weekly radio program' 'Outdoors in Illinois'."
He holds membership in the Second Air Division Assn., the 453rd Bomb Group Assn., 8th AF Historical Society, and the Air Force Association. He was a past member of the Madison Press Club and was their "Madison Public Relations Man of 1970." In 1986 his crew was honored at the Yakima Air Show and seven of the crew met there. While there he learned of the 2nd Air Div. Association, and promptly joined. He and Jeane traveled twice to England and to numerous venues in the U.S. with that group. In 1990, his bomb group (453rd) decided to meet separately. When Wilbur suggested they have a newsletter, he was promptly "volunteered" to publish it. He and Jeane have continued with that publication, starting the 20th year in 2009. Wilbur was an excellent marksman and served as a gunner at retriever dog trials for many years. He was an avid upland game hunter as well as a fly fisherman. He delighted in fishing for smallmouth bass in the small streams in his native Illinois. He was a member of the DNR golf league and continued that pastime for many years after his retirement in 1984. He was proud to claim as personal friends noted outdoorsmen and writers, Tim Eisele, Bill Stokes, Homer Circle (Field and Stream), George Laycock (Nat'l Geographic), and John Madson and Charlie Gilham (Winchester Firearms) as well as Roger Freeman of Sussex, England, author of "The Mighty Eighth." He also claimed friendships with England, France, Belguim and most of the 48 contiguous states. He was also acquainted with the late Governor Knowles with whom he hunted several times. Wilbur's father passed away in 1973; his mother in 1991 at age 98. He was also predeceased by a brother, Leslie K. Stites; a sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Marion "Jack" Hefner.
He leaves behind his wife, a daughter, a son and his wife, granddaughter, grandson, son-in-law, 16 nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the Gunderson Cross Plains Funeral Home, Cross Plains. Private burial was in Highland Memory Gardens, Madison.
Wilbur was 87 when he passed away at Heartland Country Village in Black Earth after a long and arduous struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Born to Leslie & Ethel (Kohl) Stites in LaRose, IL. He graduated from Magnolia (IL) High School.
He enlisted in the Armed Forces in the summer of 1941 and was inducted into service in the fall of that year. After extensive training, he was assigned to the crew of William E. Lofton as waist gunner. After embarking from Camp Kilmer, NJ, they eventually were stationed at the 8th Air Force base at Old Buckingham, Norfolk, England. The crew flew combat missions over Germany in B-24 Liberators. On the 17th mission, their plane was severely damaged and they were forced to bail out in Belgium within four miles of enemy territory. After an R and R leave, they returned to duty and completed the required 35 missions before returning to the States in Feb. 1945.
In Apr. 21, 1945, he married Jeane Sorchych in DePue, IL. After short working stints at the John Deere Plow Co., Moline and New Jersey Zinc Co., DePue, Wilbur returned to his studies at the University of IL in Champaign - Urbana, graduating in 1951. Upon graduation, the IL Conservation Department recruited him and he established "Outdoors in Illinois" radio and television shows for them. In 1956, he joined the WI Conservation Department to set up similar programs in Wisconsin. Working in conjunction with Dean Tvedt and Staber Reese, he spent the next 20 years producing "Wisconsin Outdoors" radio and television shows which were shown extensively throughout WI, IL, MN and even one station in TX. When those programs were discontinued, Gov. Warren Knowles asked that he be assigned to work with him on the Outdoor Recreation Acts Program and he was proud to do so. Monona was the Stites' first home in Wisconsin. In 1957, they moved to the McFarland area. Wilbur became very active in the McFarland Lutheran Church, serving on the council and several committees including the building committee. He was especially proud to complete study and qualify to teach the Bethel Bible Series.
In 1973, the family moved to rural Black Earth where they have resided to the present. Wilbur was a co-founder and charter member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers and served as president in 1959. He held memberships in Outdoor Writers of America and the American Association of Conservation Information from whom he received an Award of Merit in 1956 "for outstanding work for the preparation and transcription of the 'weekly radio program' 'Outdoors in Illinois'."
He holds membership in the Second Air Division Assn., the 453rd Bomb Group Assn., 8th AF Historical Society, and the Air Force Association. He was a past member of the Madison Press Club and was their "Madison Public Relations Man of 1970." In 1986 his crew was honored at the Yakima Air Show and seven of the crew met there. While there he learned of the 2nd Air Div. Association, and promptly joined. He and Jeane traveled twice to England and to numerous venues in the U.S. with that group. In 1990, his bomb group (453rd) decided to meet separately. When Wilbur suggested they have a newsletter, he was promptly "volunteered" to publish it. He and Jeane have continued with that publication, starting the 20th year in 2009. Wilbur was an excellent marksman and served as a gunner at retriever dog trials for many years. He was an avid upland game hunter as well as a fly fisherman. He delighted in fishing for smallmouth bass in the small streams in his native Illinois. He was a member of the DNR golf league and continued that pastime for many years after his retirement in 1984. He was proud to claim as personal friends noted outdoorsmen and writers, Tim Eisele, Bill Stokes, Homer Circle (Field and Stream), George Laycock (Nat'l Geographic), and John Madson and Charlie Gilham (Winchester Firearms) as well as Roger Freeman of Sussex, England, author of "The Mighty Eighth." He also claimed friendships with England, France, Belguim and most of the 48 contiguous states. He was also acquainted with the late Governor Knowles with whom he hunted several times. Wilbur's father passed away in 1973; his mother in 1991 at age 98. He was also predeceased by a brother, Leslie K. Stites; a sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Marion "Jack" Hefner.
He leaves behind his wife, a daughter, a son and his wife, granddaughter, grandson, son-in-law, 16 nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the Gunderson Cross Plains Funeral Home, Cross Plains. Private burial was in Highland Memory Gardens, Madison.
He enlisted in the Armed Forces in the summer of 1941 and was inducted into service in the fall of that year. After extensive training, he was assigned to the crew of William E. Lofton as waist gunner. After embarking from Camp Kilmer, NJ, they eventually were stationed at the 8th Air Force base at Old Buckingham, Norfolk, England. The crew flew combat missions over Germany in B-24 Liberators. On the 17th mission, their plane was severely damaged and they were forced to bail out in Belgium within four miles of enemy territory. After an R and R leave, they returned to duty and completed the required 35 missions before returning to the States in Feb. 1945.
In Apr. 21, 1945, he married Jeane Sorchych in DePue, IL. After short working stints at the John Deere Plow Co., Moline and New Jersey Zinc Co., DePue, Wilbur returned to his studies at the University of IL in Champaign - Urbana, graduating in 1951. Upon graduation, the IL Conservation Department recruited him and he established "Outdoors in Illinois" radio and television shows for them. In 1956, he joined the WI Conservation Department to set up similar programs in Wisconsin. Working in conjunction with Dean Tvedt and Staber Reese, he spent the next 20 years producing "Wisconsin Outdoors" radio and television shows which were shown extensively throughout WI, IL, MN and even one station in TX. When those programs were discontinued, Gov. Warren Knowles asked that he be assigned to work with him on the Outdoor Recreation Acts Program and he was proud to do so. Monona was the Stites' first home in Wisconsin. In 1957, they moved to the McFarland area. Wilbur became very active in the McFarland Lutheran Church, serving on the council and several committees including the building committee. He was especially proud to complete study and qualify to teach the Bethel Bible Series.
In 1973, the family moved to rural Black Earth where they have resided to the present. Wilbur was a co-founder and charter member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers and served as president in 1959. He held memberships in Outdoor Writers of America and the American Association of Conservation Information from whom he received an Award of Merit in 1956 "for outstanding work for the preparation and transcription of the 'weekly radio program' 'Outdoors in Illinois'."
He holds membership in the Second Air Division Assn., the 453rd Bomb Group Assn., 8th AF Historical Society, and the Air Force Association. He was a past member of the Madison Press Club and was their "Madison Public Relations Man of 1970." In 1986 his crew was honored at the Yakima Air Show and seven of the crew met there. While there he learned of the 2nd Air Div. Association, and promptly joined. He and Jeane traveled twice to England and to numerous venues in the U.S. with that group. In 1990, his bomb group (453rd) decided to meet separately. When Wilbur suggested they have a newsletter, he was promptly "volunteered" to publish it. He and Jeane have continued with that publication, starting the 20th year in 2009. Wilbur was an excellent marksman and served as a gunner at retriever dog trials for many years. He was an avid upland game hunter as well as a fly fisherman. He delighted in fishing for smallmouth bass in the small streams in his native Illinois. He was a member of the DNR golf league and continued that pastime for many years after his retirement in 1984. He was proud to claim as personal friends noted outdoorsmen and writers, Tim Eisele, Bill Stokes, Homer Circle (Field and Stream), George Laycock (Nat'l Geographic), and John Madson and Charlie Gilham (Winchester Firearms) as well as Roger Freeman of Sussex, England, author of "The Mighty Eighth." He also claimed friendships with England, France, Belguim and most of the 48 contiguous states. He was also acquainted with the late Governor Knowles with whom he hunted several times. Wilbur's father passed away in 1973; his mother in 1991 at age 98. He was also predeceased by a brother, Leslie K. Stites; a sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Marion "Jack" Hefner.
He leaves behind his wife, a daughter, a son and his wife, granddaughter, grandson, son-in-law, 16 nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the Gunderson Cross Plains Funeral Home, Cross Plains. Private burial was in Highland Memory Gardens, Madison.
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