Wilbur Wesley Amacher

Wilbur Wesley “Wib” Amacher, age 99 years and 10 months, died at his home in New Braunfels of complications from a recent stroke. Wib was born February 5, 1918, in Sibley, Illinois to Guy and Rose (Roth) Amacher. He attended Gallagher’s College of Business until he enlisted in the Army Air Corp in January 1941. While in the service, he married Doris Mae Olson on June 5,1942 in Biloxi, Mississippi. In May 1958, he was transferred with Air Training Command to Randolph Air Force Base and the family moved to New Braunfels. He retired from the civil service in 1976. While living in New Braunfels, he became involved with many organizations. In 1976, he was elected to City Council and became mayor of New Braunfels in 1979. The highlight of his time as mayor was receiving an invitation from Braunfels, Germany to be a part of the 20th anniversary of the Sister City Program. He was a charter member of the Evening Lions Club. He served as treasurer of the New Braunfels Presbyterian Church for 38 years and on the Board of Trustees. He helped form the Senior Citizens Center in the 1970s and helped to organize and deliver Meals on Wheels. He also served on the original board of the New Braunfels Humane Society and served as treasurer for 10 years. Wib was a member of the Citizens Police Academy, active in the Blue Santa program. After heart surgery in 1988, he served on the American Heart Association board for 10 years. Amacher participated in the American Cancer Society walk as a survivor. He was an active member of the Chamber for over 40 years, earning his Blue Coat as well as the Hall of Honor Award in 1997. The Republican Women honored him in 2004 for his help during Wurstfest. He was a member of the Wurstfest Association for over 40 years. He enjoyed helping the Sophienburg Museum during Weihnachtsmarkt. In 2006, he was honored by the Braunfels Foundation Trust by being chosen as a Living Legend. In 2016 he was chosen as an Unsung Hero. Wib was active until this last year. He and Doris dedicated a lot of time and energy to the McKenna Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. After her death he volunteered at Christus Surgical Center. He rarely missed an early morning coffee with friends at Hannas, at Augusta or Buttermilk. One of the highlights of his life was going on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC with fellow WWII veterans. He also participated in the annual Veterans Day Parade. Wib is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Kolacek (Jimmy), and Rosanne Stockhorst (Lester), five grandchildren, Mandy Colwell (Bob), Kyle Kolacek (Richard Lewis), Erin Keeling (Ross), Rebecca Stockhorst, and Elizabeth Brugman (Matthew), as well as three great-grandchildren, Cade Colwell, Phoebe Colwell and Daxton Keeling, one sister-in-law Carol Noble, and six nieces and nephews, John Ritter, Gary Carter, Valli Eichenstadt, Gia Smith, Beth Sheets and Rob Noble. He is also survived by caregiver, Jo Hanson, who filled his last six months with kindness, dignity and love. Wib was preceded in death by Doris, his wife of 70 years, his parents, his sister Darlene Ritter (Red), nephew Kent Olson, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws Katharine Vevig (John), Marilyn Olson, Pearl Carter (Bob), Bud Olson (Patty), Ginger Takasaki (Jerry) and Dick Noble. Memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at I:00 at New Braunfels Presbyterian Church. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Honor Flight San Antonio, 14080 Nacogdoches Road, PMB 340, San Antonio, TX 78247 or New Braunfels Presbyterian Church, 373 Howard Street, New Braunfels, TX 78130.