Walter John Will

Walter John Will, 97, of Newburgh, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 22, 2019 at Hamilton Pointe Nursing Home. Walter was born June 7, 1921 in St. Wendel, IN to the late Bernard and Appalonia (Knapp) Will. He was a visionary and business entrepreneur who grew up on his father’s seven farms in dutch country. He worked on the family farm plowing fields with a 12” walk behind plow with two horses, picking and shucking a horse wagon full of corn everyday by himself. He also milked cows seven days a week. Work on the farm was challenging. In the 1950’s Walter and his brother, Elmer discovered a large deposit of limestone rock behind what is now the University of Southern Indiana. Walter also pumped sand and gravel on the Ohio River, discovering the largest deposit ever in Troy, IN. Soon, Walter and Elmer sold out to Mulzer Crushed Stone. Walter donated money to St. Wendel Catholic Church for the building of the new school there. In the 1960’s, Walter bought large tracts of woods, clearing six acres a day. He would then farm the rich, fertile soil. He would then sell one large piece of property to a power plant to be built in Gibson County. He also owned the legendary, 1100 acre Bull Island along the Wabash River for 13 years. He ferried his farm equipment there and to Diamond Island on the Ohio River to farm the rich soil. Walter was quick on his feet and loved to dance. His wife of 44 years, Mathilda (Hoffmann) Will, tried to slow him down, but to no avail. In the 1970’s and up until 1986, Walter was big into the coal business. From Santa Claus, IN, to Kentucky, to Bonanza, AR (where the western show, Bonanza was filmed) to Sugarloaf Mountain, AR at 1200 feet high. Walter worked sixteen hours a day with his four sons and daughter at different times, living in his home at Graceland in St. Wendel; flying on Arnold Palmer’s Lear jet, flying to Italy in 1974 and buying three of the world’s largest ripping bulldozers. He then flew to Casper, Wyoming to buy six dual engine 657 scrapers, the largest Caterpillar model made. His largest mine in Arkansas had three massive walking draglines, each with 1,200 horsepower locomotive engines. In 1975, Walter sold a mine in Newburgh, IN that would become the largest coal producer in Indiana, Black Beauty Coal Company. In the 1980’s, Walter drilled for oil in Tulsa, OK and Fort Scott, Kansas. He was visited by Walmart founder Sam Walton and by Justin Boot Company on his newly discovered oil leases. In 1986, Walter’s wife Mathilda and mother, Appolonia both died of illness just eighteen hours apart. At the age of 65, Walter began to slow down and his daughter, Margie took good care of him. In 2001, Walter’s grandson, Scott Egbert died in an accident just two days before Christmas. Walter decided to live out his grandson’s life and buy a motorcycle. Surviving Walter are a daughter, Margie (Les) Quates of Newburgh; four sons, Larry (Sharon) Will of Boynton Beach, FL, Gene Will of Greenwood, AR, Leo Will of Venice, FL and Kenny (Michele) Will of Evansville; one brother, Leroy (Barbara) Will of Evansville; grandchildren, Melanie (Reggie) Quates, Michele (Jack) Cole, Jennifer (Nick) Fortin, April (Mike) Cooper, Ashley (Derek) Hart, Austin (Lexis) Will, Alexis Will, Nicole Will, Christina Will, John Will, Melissa Will, Clay Will and Michael Will; twenty two great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. In addition to his parents, Walter was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Mathilda (Hoffmann) Will; by a grandson, Scott Egbert and by two brothers, Elmer and Freeman Will. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at St. Wendel Catholic Church, Rev. Ed Schnur officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Wendel Church cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 until 8:00 PM on Wednesday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street and from 10:00 AM until service time on Thursday at St. Wendel Catholic Church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Wendel Catholic School, 4725 St. Wendel Cynthiana Road, Wadesville, IN 47638. Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.

Walter John Will

June 7, 1921 - April 22, 2019