William Carl Gratzinger, 81, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., formerly of Stanton Heights, died at 2 a.m. Wednesday.

He was born Jan. 30, 1924, in Mount Pleasant, the son of George W. and Ora J. Stouffer Gratzinger.

Mr. Gratzinger graduated from East Huntingdon High School in 1941 where he lettered his senior year in music. He played the trumpet for the high school band.

Bill enlisted in the Army at the age of 19, serving in World War II with Company B, 202nd Combat Engineers Battalion. He was awarded five Bronze Stars for his service at the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as well as the Battle of the Bulge and other campaigns.

During his Army days, he played his trumpet in Duke Webber's 38th Engineers Wideawakes, entertaining many in Brussels, Belgium, in postwar 1945.

In 1956 he married JoAnn Green. They were married for 11 years and had three children.

Bill worked at Kool Vent Awnings as a foreman for 36 years and worked at the Allegheny Cemetery as an historic maintenance crew member from 1984 to 1988.

He was a member of the Oakmont Yacht Club, serving many positions of office, including commodore in 1975.

In 1978 he married Betty Ann Kohser, a native of Stanton Heights. In 1988 they retired to Lehigh Acres.

During his retirement, Bill was employed in the garden shop at K-Mart, Riverland Nurseries and Hendry Creek Landscaping.

Bill is survived by his wife of 27 years, Betty Ann; a daughter, Karen (David) Schiebel of Butler; a son, Kenneth Gratzinger of East Brady; a stepson, Bruce Pfiefer of Virginia; one brother, Donald Gratzinger of Mount Pleasant; four sisters, Ruth Hyde of Palm Harbor, Fla., Helen Bedner of Richmond, Ohio, Nancy Montique of Stahlstown and Betty Lenhart of Latrobe; nine grandchildren, Angel Miller, Kenneth Miller Jr., Matthew Miller, Christopher and Jonathan Schiebel, Kenneth Lee Gratzinger, Kristopher Gratzinger, Joshua Holden and Jenna Holden; three great-grandchildren, Greggory Miller, Madeleine Miller, and Zachary Miller; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Keith Allen Gratzinger; five brothers, George R. "Bob," Richard, Ronald, Edwin "Ross" and James Gratzinger, and three sisters, Margaret Mulertt, Louise Lawrence and infant Caroline.

GRATZINGER - Friends of William Carl Gratzinger, who died Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at D'ALESSANDRO FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY LTD, at Butler and 46th Street, Lawrenceville. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.Online condolences are available at www.dalessandroltd.com