William Henry Uellendahl, 94, passed away on January 16, 2018. A graveside service will be performed at Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury NY in the Spring when he will be laid to rest beside his beloved first wife, Ann.

William was born in Queens, NY to the late Emil and Sarah Uellendahl on March 5, 1923. He was preceded in death by his brothers Jack and Eddie, his sister Trudy and his second wife Marge.

William embodied all the finest traits of “the greatest generation”. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II, aboard the U.S.S. Bayfield. The Bayfield was assigned to both the Europe-Africa-Middle East and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in the following historic campaigns: Invasion of Normandy, Invasion of southern France, Iwo Jima Operation and Okinawa Gunto Operation. When the war ended, William joined the NYC Fire Department. William possessed a near photographic memory and a proclivity for mathematics. His battalion chief, Julius Freed, a recent law school graduate, recognized these skills and encouraged William to “take the tests”. William studied hard, rose through the ranks, and attained his mentor’s position, FDNY Battalion Chief. His strength of mind and body combined with an unwavering moral compass made him a figure of respect wherever he was assigned. William retired from the FDNY after over 30 years of dedicated service to people of NYC. A source of great pride was the fact that his youngest son, Gary, followed in his footsteps to become an FDNY Captain.

William married his Jamaica High School sweetheart, Anna Marie Baumgart in 1948. They moved to Oceanside NY, built a home and raised three children. William and Ann lived happily…but not ever after. Ann passed away in 1986, after 38 years of marriage. Bill was inconsolable until he reconnected with Marge Dunker, another Jamaica HS graduate and good friend of Ann. They were married and lived in New Hyde Park, NY for over twenty years. Marge passed away in 2008. William defied his age and remained in their Orchid Lane house, driving his friends to bridge at the Herricks Senior Center, going to the 11am movies
with his good friend Grace and tending his tomato plants right up until this summer.

William is survived by his daughter Linda Uellendahl of Yonkers, his son Robert Uellendahl and wife Sumei of Baldwin, his son Gary Uellendahl and his wife Liz of Long Beach, NY and his 4 grandchildren; Ryan, Ethan, Annemarie and Andrew, his stepdaughter-in-law Ronnie Dunker of Lindenhurst, NY, his stepson Jimmy Dunker and his wife Nancy of Denver, N.C., his stepson Jeffrey Dunker of Mohnton, PA, his nieces Robin Lein
and Gail Uellandahl and his nephew Jack Uellendahl.

William’s total recall and encyclopedic knowledge made him the “Uellendahl-Family-Google”. He will be missed by all. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your charity of choice.