Sylvester “Sal” Espe, 91
Sylvester “Sal” Espe, 91, of Austin, died at Austin Medical Center on April 13, 2009. 
He was born Nov. 28, 1917 to Nels and Bessie (Howell) Espe in Duncan, Iowa. He was inducted to the Army in 1941, serving in the Third Armor Division during World War II. He landed on Omaha Beach and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, European Campaign with five combat stars and a victory citation. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Presidential Citation. He married Dorothy Armbrust on Aug. 2, 1945 in Austin where they made their home. A 45 year employee of Hormel Foods Corp., Sal was vice president of the P-9 Union and served as a delegate to the National Convention. 
A member of American Legion, VFW, DAV, Crane Community Chapel and Austin Township Board president, he entertained with his band at seven nursing homes each month and on the Family Hour with Pastor Joe Matt. He sold Buddy Poppies and forget-me-nots for disabled veterans and veterans hospitals. He enjoyed fishing with his family and traveling.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Espe, Austin; son, Larry (Nancy) Espe, Zimmerman, Minn.; two daughters, Nancy (Kenny Voss) Logue, Sherrard, Ill., Mary Jane Nitichenko, Billings, Mont.; nine grandchildren, Matthew, Mark, Ashley, Dale, Brandon, Katheran, Mary, Maria and Mikel; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Evangeline Reiman, St. Francis; Alice (Harold) Wiste, Adams; two brothers, Leonard (Janet) Espe, Austin; Paul (Helen) Espe, Quincy, Ill. 
He was preceded in death by his parents; seven siblings, Raymond, Richard, Ernest, Annabelle, Dorothy, Donna and Elizabeth.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 17, 2009 at Crane Community Chapel in Austin with Pastor Dale Christiansen officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday at Worlein Funeral Home, Austin, and at the church one hour prior to the service. The organist will be Joyce Fawver. Casketbearers will be Richard Peterson, Matt Logue, Mark Logue, Kenny Voss, Sterling Boysen, Vern Dunham. Interment is at Oakwood Cemetery, Austin with military rites by American Legion Post 91 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1216. Memorials are preferred to the Honor Flight, the Austin D.A.V., and Crane Community Chapel.