William Donald Schoenig

William Donald "Don" Schoenig, 87, of Eighty-Four, died on Friday, June 6, 2008, at his home, after a brief illness. He was born on February 14, 1921, in Pittsburgh, a son of Henry Leo and Emma Alfreda Rothkaetal Schoenig. Mr. Schoenig had worked as a draftsman at James Matthews for 30 years. He was Catholic by faith, and he enjoyed woodworking, painting, artistry, drawing and World War II memorabilia. He was a graduate of Allegheny High School, and attended Carnegie-Tech University for 2 years. Mr. Schoenig was a Private with Service Battery 967th Field Artillery Battalion, in the United States Army during World War II. He participated in the battles and campaigns of, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. For his service and sacrifices, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal Unit Citation, with One Oak Leaf Cluster, the American Defense Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Theater Service Medal, and the European, African, Middle-Eastern Service Medal with Four Bronze Stars. He also achieved the SS Pistol-Carbine-03 Marksmanship Badge. He received the Purple Heart for wounds he received in Germany on February 21, 1944. He was honorably discharged on November 11, 1945. On May 19, 1950, he married Johanna E. "Joan" Fluitsma, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Vincent W. (Edith) Schoenig, of Virginia; 4 daughters, Joyce (Robert) Lane, of Toledo, Ohio, Candace Schoenig, of Eighty-Four, with whom he made his home; Theresa (Gary) Kahle, of Dormont, and Victoria (John) Behun, of McMurray, PA; a sister, Elizabeth H. Loch, of New Jersey; and 3 grandchildren, Noelle Kahle, and Victoria and Nicholas Schoenig. Friends will be received on Sunday from 7-9 p.m. at the William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Ave, Washington, PA 15301. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, on Monday, June 9, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., with Father Nicholas Spirko officiating. Burial will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded graveside by Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion.