S. Krosnar
Rest in peace Uncle Wogy. I’ll always see you as a giant of a man, even though you weren’t much taller than me! Sorry, but I’m not going to smoke pot with my uncle!! Love, Steph
Birth date: Apr 25, 1921 Death date: Sep 13, 2019
Lt. Col (Ret) Clarence E Wolgemuth, 5130 Wescott Blvd, Apt 210, Summerville, SC 29485. Clarence E Wolgemuth passed away on September 13, 2019 at 6:35 am. Born on 25 April, 1921, the son of Ezra and Lizzie Wolgemuth, he graduated Read Obituary
Rest in peace Uncle Wogy. I’ll always see you as a giant of a man, even though you weren’t much taller than me! Sorry, but I’m not going to smoke pot with my uncle!! Love, Steph
I met "Wogy" more years ago than I really care to remember. I picture him as a jovial, but truly professional officer and pilot. My association with him while in the Air Force, and later as a proud "Old Shaky", was as a true friend, even though we didn't see each other often. I had the (perhaps dubious?) privilege of sharing his loss of Loretta by being at Arlington with them. Sadly, health problems prevented my being there for his farewell. I was happy for him when he married Kathy. Not being a Scotch drinker, I didn't have the honor of sharing a sip with him, but made do with Canadian while we swapped stories, some of which may have been embellished just a bit. Godspeed, old friend. We miss you.
Don
Donald G. Wolpert, LtCol USAF (Ret)
Truly a fine gentleman and a joy to have known. Rest in peace Wogy.
Harry & Johanna Heist
Dover, DE
Our paths first crossed in 1962 when (then) Major Wolgemuth was scheduled to administer a C-124 check flight to this Second Lieutenant. Wogy was the chief pilot for the 15th ATS, and I was hoping to upgrade from nothing to Second Pilot at the Dover base. The flight went OK despite an actual engine failure. I passed.
Years later we talked about that day and how I took what I learned from him and applied it to others later on. With reunions and such, Wogy and I became good friends over the years.We emailed, talked on the phone, and he and Kathy hosted us in their home in Dover. When I was writing a book on those C-124 days, ("Here We Go! Recollections From the Golden Age of Airlift" - Dog Ear Publishing) Wogy provided some good input and stories to the project. He got an original manuscript and one of the first copies of the book.
We commiserated over his declining eye sight and rejoiced at his obvious good genes and long life.We laughed and remained friends all these years. He kept me up to date on he and Kathy moving to South Carolina. We kept each other in our prayers. I shed a tear when I learned of his passing, but when I looked at his photo, I broke into a broad grin. My heart tells me he is just fine.
I'd like to thank his family for sharing him with us for so long. God Speed, Wogy. I'll close this the way you closed your letters: Our love to you . . .
"Charlie" and Sandra Brown
Garnett C. Brown, Jr.
Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
Lexington, KY.
October 28, 2019
WOLGY
Everyone in the Military Airlift System knew that name. However, as far as I was concerned, it mattered not that he was so well known by others; he was my father in the Twenty Squadron. As I grew in my awareness of my position as a Second, First and finally Aircraft Commander, he was oh so present to me, not as a standboard pilot, but as a compassionate loving friend who like all of us hid his spirituality first as man to man and then as the conduit of God loving all of us as very dear people. Perhaps he was the first to lead me into what it was to become human in the military. Oh yes, we were a rough and tumble group. We couldn’t give a sissy appearance of being “God Lovers,” but loving our hanger flying but finally, expressing our public love for our God through our friends. As young “Turks,” we only realized that portion of us that exposed our might, our toughness, to others. Thankfully, It began with Wolfy for me and soon spread out to all my team mates in the Twentieth and finally leading me to respond to my vocational call to priesthood and even further to missionary priesthood where I was able to share with the indigenous people of Latin America that same God, the God we didn’t speak about in the halls of the Twentieth Squadron. I have found much to love in my friends who now have no shame of speaking to one another about the presence and meaning of God in their lives. Fly on Wolgy, pass through the growing clouds to leap ever higher and when there, reach out and touch the face of God. Well done my dad.
Rev. Joseph P. La Mar, M.M.
[email protected]
516-435-5128
We (the 80th Fighter Squadron Headhunters Association) are saddened beyond words to learn of Wogy's passing. He was a mainstay for many years at our reunions, and we last saw he and Kathy in Fort Worth in 2017. I had sent him an email several days ago checking up on him, and he usually responds very quickly. So, when I hadn't heard from him I checked and found this obituary. I am heading to Brisbane, Australia next week to speak at a Royal Australian Air Force 28 Squadron memorial service. The 28th and 80th Squadrons were stationed together at Lowood Aerodrome early in the war. I will be unveiling a bronze plaque and laying a wreath in honor of the 139 men from the 8th Fighter Group (35th, 36th, and 80th Squadrons) who died in the Pacific Theater and defended Australian against the Japanese. I will lay the wreath in Wogy's name, as he was the last surviving WWII P-38 pilot in our Association. Rest In Peace my friend and God Bless.
Bob "Muskrat" McNeese
President, 80th FS Headhunters Association
[email protected]
One of the first things I did as editor of the AMC Museum's Hangar Digest was an article about Wogie. He was a fascinating interview and the time I spent just seemed to fly by. He will be missed.
Jeff Brown, MSgt, USAF (Ret.)
Editor, Hangar Digest newsletter
AMC Museum, Dover AFB, Del.
I am the oldest nephew of Uncle Clarence but, as he said many times, we grew up on the family farm more like brothers. We were very close and had the greatest respect for one another. He was best man at our wedding. After he retired from the military we worked side-by-side for Agway Construction where he was one of my top sales people.
Clarence is the last of the Ezra & Lizzie Wolgemuth family. He had just one sister and seven brothers. A great and loving family.
He is already sorely missed. However, we are comforted knowing he is in heaven and reunited with family and friends. And, no more pain and suffering!