Samuel Godfrey

Samuel W. Godfrey, age 90 of Iron River, MI died Saturday, February 14, 2009 at his home. He was born November 10, 1918 in Caspian, MI, the son of Samuel John and Myrtle (Thomas) Godfrey. He enlisted in the U. S. Army, serving from February 1941 to September 1945. He worked himself up to Staff Sargeant of the COF 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was Iron County's most decorated soldier of WWII. He was awarded the Army Presidential Unit Citation Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters for valorous conduct in action against the enemy, five Purple Hearts with four oak leaf clusters for being wounded five times, Efficient Honor Fidelity good conduct medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver service heart denoting five major engagements, Bronze Arrowhead for participation in the amphibious landing, WWII Victory Medal, and Combat Infantry Medal. Samuel married the former Dorothy Sutherland on June 10, 1950 and the couple made their home in Iron River. They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in 2004. Samuel worked in the CCC camp at Watersmeet, MI and later was a mail carrier for 30 years. He was a VFW 3134 charter member, a member of the DA Chapter 67 for the last 57 years, and a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church of Iron River. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy on April 21, 2004, son Samuel Jr. on April 5, 1992, brothers Garnet, Joseph, Edward and David and sister Ethel. He is survived by his daughter Carol Godfrey of Iron Mountain Brother, Alfred Godfrey of Bluewater, NM Two sisters; Lillian Woolard of Flint, MI Florence (Tom) Lantinen of Homestead, WI Several nieces and nephews. Visitation: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron River. Funeral Service: Thursday, February 19, 2009 2:00 p.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church, Iron River with Rev. Mark Ryan to officiate. Interment: Stambaugh Cemetery, Iron River The West Side Veterans will accord military rites. Funeral arrangements by the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron River.