William Depperschmidt

William "Bill" Depperschmidt, born November 2, 1923 in Liebenthal, Kansas to John and Rosalia was the last known survivor of 18 siblings. Bill grew up in Kansas, speaking only German, where he survived the Dust Bowl of the 1930's before he moved to Colorado, where he worked in the CCC Camps and learned to speak English. Liebenthal, Kansas, once known as the geographical center of the U.S., is still home to a huge population of Depperschmidts. When Bill was 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he was commissioned in the Submarine Service during World War II. After WWII, Bill returned to Colorado where he met Evelyn. Bill and Evelyn had one child in Colorado, Betty, and Bill built his first home. Bill and Evelyn moved to California, where they had their second child, Bob. They moved to Alaska, where Bill built a log home, retired from the Federal Civil Service, and moved back to Colorado. In Colorado, Bill build four homes, and eventually moved to Wickenburg Arizona, where he built his last home. Bill was well known for his many detailed and fascinating stories of survival in depressed and dusty 1930's Kansas, submarine service in World War II, and his sharp and witty sense of humor. One of the last survivors of this country's greatest generation, he was one of the men who made this nation great. Bill is survived by his wife Evelyn and his 2 children Betty and Bob, 7 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren.