Oscar A. Mahlum died Saturday, June 5, 2010 at Syverson Lutheran Nursing home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Immediately preceding his move to Eau Claire in September of 2009 he resided in Holmen, Wisconsin.
Oscar was born to Alfred and Clara (Ekern) Mahlum of Ettrick, Wisconsin on February 15, 1919. He was raised on the home farm and attended school in Ettrick and Galesville. In his youth he helped his dad on the farm near Ettrick and later joined the Civilian Conservation Corps where he helped to plant thousands of trees in Wisconsin.
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In 1938 Oscar joined the U.S. Army. During his career he helped to form the 9th Division and later the 88th Division out of Oklahoma. In early 1944 he was deployed as part of the 88th Division with the 349th Infantry Regiment, first to Casablanca, Morocco and then on to Naples, Italy. Oscar was part of the campaign to liberate Rome and later the Panero River to Po River Campaign in Italy, which began on April 16th of 1945. During this campaign, Oscar saw heavy action as the Allies drove back and destroyed the Nazi Army which had superior forces in that area of Italy. Oscar was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism displayed on April 23, 1945, near
Decima, Italy when he and three other men assaulted tank-supported hostile positions. His actions were an important factor in the destruction of the enemy strongpoint, which enabled his company to continue its advance through the mountains towards the Po River. The 349th Infantry Regiment along with the rest of the 88th Infantry Division, which he had helped train, was instrumental in bringing about the surrender of thousands of Nazi soldiers which, in part, led to Mussolini's surrender on April 27th, 1945. Oscar was honorably discharged after the war on August 12, 1945. |
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Upon returning to Wisconsin after the war, Oscar worked for Kenosha Auto Transport and then for Arco Auto Carriers from 1948 to 1953. On October 22, 1949 he married Muriel J. Amoth of Ettrick, Wisconsin and they made their home in Kenosha. In 1953 Oscar and Muriel moved to Merrillan, Wisconsin where they purchased and then operated the City Service Gas Station and an adjoining root-beer stand. After selling the business in 1956, Oscar returned to driving truck for W.R. Arthur out of Janesville, Wisconsin and worked there until May of 1960. In 1960 Oscar and Muriel moved to Anoka, Minnesota after becoming employed by Janesville Auto Transport and in 1964 they moved to Moorhead, Minnesota after the dispatch terminal was relocated to Dilworth, Minnesota. Oscar's truck driving took him as far as Los Angeles and New York and many cities in between over his career. He retired in 1980 and continued to reside in Moorhead until 2001 when he and Muriel relocated to Holmen, not far from the farms where they were both born and raised.
Oscar was preceded in death by his wife Muriel, his parents, two sisters, Helen Patterson and Lillian Danforth and two brothers, Hiram and Clayton Mahlum. He is survived by his son, Alan (Cathy) Mahlum, Oakdale, Minnesota; daughter, Karen (Dean) Mueller, Eau Claire, Wisconsin; son, Richard (Bonnie)Mahlum, St. Charles, Illinois, 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister-in-law and brother-in law, Jean and Roger Buttke of Wisconsin Rapids and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 8th at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 123 West Hamilton Avenue, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with Pastor Rodney Venberg officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will follow the service. There will be a funeral procession, beginning at about 2:15 p.m., just off Hwy 53 on County Rd C in the Town of Ettrick, which will then proceed through the town and on to the Ettrick Cemetery just off of County Rd. D.
Oscar was a member of VFW Post 1915, Trempealeau, Wisconsin.
The family requests that any memorials be given directly to the charity of your choice. Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.fullerspeckienhulke.com.
Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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