Wilbert Peter Hirschfeld, 100, St. Cloud

August 9, 1914 - January 10, 2015

Funeral services will be 12:30PM Wednesday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud for Will Hirschfeld who died Saturday at St Benedict’s Center in St. Cloud. The Rev. LeRoy Scheirl will officiate. Entombment will be in Assumption Mausoleum in St. Cloud. Friends and relatives may call from 5-8PM Tuesday at the Williams Dingmann Funeral Home in St. Cloud and 1 hour prior to services Wednesday at the church in St. Cloud.

Hirsch was born in St. Cloud to John N. & Mary (Marx) Hirschfeld. He graduated from Cathedral High School and went to St. Cloud Teachers College for approximately two years before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He served in the European Theatre of Operations as a Master Sergeant during WWII. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to St. Cloud. He began working as the Meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service for the St. Cloud office. Will worked there for 32 years, retiring in 1978. He married Ann Glatzmaier on May 15, 1943 at St. James Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, MI. She died on April 3, 2004. He played amateur and semi-professional baseball for the St. Cloud “Semi Pros” during the mid and late 1930’s. He was fond of telling the story he played against Satchel Page and with a chuckle would say he struck him out twice and grounded out, though he usually was a pretty good hitter. Will remained an avid fan of baseball and all Minnesota sports throughout his life. He was a member of the VFW post # 428 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles aerie 622 and Wapicada Golf Club.

Survivors include his daughters, LaVonne (Tom, M.D.) Knuff of Marquette, MI; and Scottsdale, AZ; Karen (Bill) McDonagh of Hastings; grandchildren, David Knuff, M.D. (Samantha); Stephen Knuff, M.D. (Rachel); Chris Knuff (Jessica); Alison (Padrich) Judd and Thomas McDonagh.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ann, two brothers, Jerome & Urban, sister, Armella Wittrock.

Memorials are preferred to the Poor Claire Sisters in Sauk Rapids.