Veterans Way Honorees

1988-1992 USMC Combat Veteran Cpl. Mitchell Ward was born and raised in Waterloo. He was a 1988 Waterloo West High graduate. He was stationed in Camp LeJeune with his MOS of 1345 (heavy equipment operator) with the 2nd Landing Support Battalion. He served in the Gulf War.

1961-1964 Edward Earl “Pete” Van Dorn, passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. Pete was born on November 10, 1941, to Lyle and Dorothy (Holland) Van Dorn. Pete was brought home from the hospital to the family residence in Highland, where he lived until moving to Friendship Village in 2021. Pete began working at age 12 as a bag boy at the former Sunnyside Country Club on Newell Street. He entered the United States Army in 1961 at Fort Riley, Kansas. He served stateside and in Korea as an infantryman in the regular Army until his honorable discharge at the rank of Sergeant in 1964. After the military, Pete worked at John Deere, beginning on the line and ending his career as a production control supervisor. Pete is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marisa, daughter Bridget McGovern (Colonel Retired James), and granddaughters First Lieutenant Kathleen McGovern and Second Lieutenant Maria McGovern. He is also survived by two sisters, Rita Trost and Phyllis Hausladen. Pete is predeceased by his son, David; brothers John, Dick, Jerry, Pat, and Timmy; and one sister, Sheila. Throughout Pete’s life, there were many things that brought him great joy. He traveled extensively with his wife, family, and friends. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed military history. He was a gracious entertainer and will be remembered for his “Pete Pours”. Pete was proud to be a veteran and was honored to share his commitment to the Army and our nation with his son-in-law and two granddaughters. Found among Pete’s belongings was a handwritten quote from the book A Gentleman in Moscow: “appreciate music of sentiment and nuance, music that rewarded patience and attention with crescendos and diminuendos, allegros, and adagios artfully arranged over four whole movements.” This was Pete’s philosophy of a life well lived.

1958-1962 Active Service, 1985-1991 Navy Reserves Jim Sullivan joined the United States Navy at the age of 17. He served actively from 1958 to 1962 and served in the Navy Reserves from 1985-1991.

4 Years Elwood “Woody” Steinbeck was born in 1930 in Brandon, Iowa. He served in the Navy during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. He was the son of Lon and Nina Kemp Steinbeck. He married Yvonne Wade in 1950 in Waterloo. She died in February 1995. He married Judy Springer on June 23, 1996, in Waterloo. He was a supervisor of manufacturing engineering at John Deere, retiring after 36 1/2 years in 1984. After retirement he worked seven more years with John Deere on contract. He was a member of Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49. Woody was the father to Cheryl (Bruce) VanKerckhove of Toddville, Gregory (Tina) of Cedar Falls, Regina (Bret) Thompson of Waterloo, Jocelyn Steinbeck, and Kami (Kevin) Happel of Atkins. He was the grandfather to Eric, Ben, Nick, and Val and great grandfather to many, and a brother to Daryl (Treva) Steinbeck. Woody passed away in 2013 while wintering in Mission, TX with Judy. Military rites were conducted by Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49.

27 Years William Smith Jr. signed up for the Marines in 1968 and served his country for 2 tours of duty in Vietnam, was the youngest Marine in country, cut the Marine Corps birthday cake with a 3 star General while in Vietnam. William turned 17 in Vietnam and was what they called a “tunnel rat.” According to his family, “he is 100 per sent disabled from Agent Orange, and is fighting everyday to stay alive, he was a Grunt over in Vietnam and walked all over the country in Vietnam.” ‘Search and Clear’ was his job while overseas.

1986-1992 Kenneth Allen Simmerman graduated from East High School in 1986 and enlisted in the Navy. He served on the USS Bunker Hill, Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser (Decommissioned 22 September 2023) Kenneth was deployed n the Persian Gulf. (In support of Desert Storm and Desert Shield.) He worked as a Test Engineer for Fisher Controls in Marshalltown.

2 years Gene Schutte was born in Waterloo, IA. He graduated from East High, worked at Chamberlain Manufacturing on munitions which qualified him as an Ammunition Technician. He is a Viet Nam Veteran, and served from 1968-1969. He survived the April 27, 1969 ammo dump explosion unscathed. Gene Schutte, Jerry Zbornik, and Robert W. Schlorff II joined the Marines together. Gene retired from John Deere test engineering department.

2 years Robert W. Schlorff II’s hometown is Waterloo, IA. He is a Viet Nam Veteran and served from 1968-1969.Gene Schutte, Jerry Zbornik, and Robert W. Schlorff II joined the Marines together.