Obituary for William James Aberwald
William James (Jim) Aberwald died peacefully on April 25, 2018 at Methodist’s St. Catherine Hospital in Houston, Texas after a day spent with family and friends. Jim was born on November 20, 1926 to Priscilla Vetter and William Mathias Aberwald in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
Immediately after his 18th birthday, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed at NAB Agana, Guam until the end of the war and spent the rest of his career as part of the occupational forces at NAB Kisarazu, Japan. He was predeceased by his wife of over 54 years, Mildred Delores (Jamie), his daughter Dawn, his sister Dolores Hilgart, his son-in-law Bret Aitchison and his nephew William Hilgart, Jr.
Jim was a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison earning degrees in both accounting and law. He moved to Orlando in 1958 and was Treasurer of Dickson & Ives Department Store (1958-1964). He subsequently left to join Florida Gas Company, which consisted of two distinct pipeline systems from South Texas to South Florida and was located in Winter Park, Florida (1964-1986). Jim ultimately became Secretary and Assistant Treasurer with primary responsibilities of overseeing the savings plan and corporate compliance. Jim relocated to Houston Texas in 1982 after Florida Gas Company, following a series of mergers, was ultimately acquired by Houston Natural Gas (HNG) where he served as Assistant General Counsel. Jim semi-retired in 1986 just following HNG’s merger with Inter-north (ultimately renamed Enron in 1985). Unlike Enron, the Florida Gas pipeline systems continue to this day and are known as Florida Gas Transmission Company.
Jim was always active in the community. He was one of 14 Charter Members that helped form the Mid-Florida Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants in 1963. He served on the St. Andrew Parish Council, as well as, a Lector/Commentator. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 5150, where he became a Fourth Degree Knight. He was active with the Boy Scouts, Junior Achievement and served on the Bishop Moore School Board. Jim is survived by his son Mark Aberwald, daughters Dana (Fred) Clark, Leslie (Mark) Heuser, Wendy Aitchison, and Sara Aberwald, grandchildren Meghan, James, and Colleen Heuser, cousin Imogene Ritger, niece Debbie Duffert, nephews Christopher and David Hilgart, and their families.
Services will be held at 12:00 pm on May 19, 2018 at Banfield Funeral Home 420 West State Road 434 Winter Springs, FL 32708 Phone: (407) 327-1500. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Rd. Gotha FL 34734. A reception will immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society 875 North Randall Street Suite 225 Arlington VA 22203 (www.nmcrs.org).
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Immediately after his 18th birthday, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed at NAB Agana, Guam until the end of the war and spent the rest of his career as part of the occupational forces at NAB Kisarazu, Japan. He was predeceased by his wife of over 54 years, Mildred Delores (Jamie), his daughter Dawn, his sister Dolores Hilgart, his son-in-law Bret Aitchison and his nephew William Hilgart, Jr.
Jim was a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison earning degrees in both accounting and law. He moved to Orlando in 1958 and was Treasurer of Dickson & Ives Department Store (1958-1964). He subsequently left to join Florida Gas Company, which consisted of two distinct pipeline systems from South Texas to South Florida and was located in Winter Park, Florida (1964-1986). Jim ultimately became Secretary and Assistant Treasurer with primary responsibilities of overseeing the savings plan and corporate compliance. Jim relocated to Houston Texas in 1982 after Florida Gas Company, following a series of mergers, was ultimately acquired by Houston Natural Gas (HNG) where he served as Assistant General Counsel. Jim semi-retired in 1986 just following HNG’s merger with Inter-north (ultimately renamed Enron in 1985). Unlike Enron, the Florida Gas pipeline systems continue to this day and are known as Florida Gas Transmission Company.
Jim was always active in the community. He was one of 14 Charter Members that helped form the Mid-Florida Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants in 1963. He served on the St. Andrew Parish Council, as well as, a Lector/Commentator. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 5150, where he became a Fourth Degree Knight. He was active with the Boy Scouts, Junior Achievement and served on the Bishop Moore School Board. Jim is survived by his son Mark Aberwald, daughters Dana (Fred) Clark, Leslie (Mark) Heuser, Wendy Aitchison, and Sara Aberwald, grandchildren Meghan, James, and Colleen Heuser, cousin Imogene Ritger, niece Debbie Duffert, nephews Christopher and David Hilgart, and their families.
Services will be held at 12:00 pm on May 19, 2018 at Banfield Funeral Home 420 West State Road 434 Winter Springs, FL 32708 Phone: (407) 327-1500. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Rd. Gotha FL 34734. A reception will immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society 875 North Randall Street Suite 225 Arlington VA 22203 (www.nmcrs.org).
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