Soldier's Service Book for Bill Morgan
Bill & Ida, April 1942
Bill Morgan ca. 1940
Back of picture. It reads: 'Do you think this looks loke me at all...Margaret said that she would get a camera when I get my next leave and take some snaps of both of us. Love Bill.
Birthday card to Bill's mother Clara while he was in the Army.
Bill Morgan in the Army, early 1940's
Bill & Ida with their son Mike, early 1960's
Parents of Ida Maria Braunagel
Recently, I have come across information on Clara's son, Bill Morgan. His son Godfrey (who goes by Mike), found this blog and shared information and pictures on his parents. This has been something that I've looked forward to for years and am grateful for his sharing this information with me.
William Hiram Morgan was born 26 November 1908 in Silver City, New Mexico. By 1910, his family had moved back to Buena Vista, Colorado, where his mother, Clara Bell (Dodge) Morgan, was born and raised. In 1911, they immigrated to Canada, settling in the town of Wilkie, Saskatchewan. Bill enlisted in the Canadian Army on February 6, 1940. At the time of his enlistment, he was a truck & tractor driver. He was a Dispatch Rider with the Saskatoon Light Infantry. He received injuries during his time in the Army during WWII and returned to Saskatoon, where he met and married his wife, Ida Braunagel, in 1942.
For his service in the Army, Bill earned the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal (1939-1945). These medals are shown below.
His wife, Ida Braunagel, was born 22 February 1920 in Strasburg, North Dakota. Her parents were joseph & Stephanie Braunagel. the immigrated to Canada in 1928 and also settled in Wilkie, Saskatchewan. Ida was a nurse when she married Bill Morgan in 1942. The met in the hospital where Bill was in rehabilitation for his injuries. After they married, they settled in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Bill was a taxi driver there before moving to Lloydminster around 1948-49. He owned his own taxi company while living in Lloydminster. He retired to Calgary in 1961 where he passed away on May 3, 1963. He is buried in Burnsland Cemetery.
After his death, his wife Ida worked and lived in Calgary, working as a cook in a truck restaurant and also as an apartment manager before retiring in 1977. She eventually lived with Max Ransome, who later became her common-law husband until her death on August 4, 1989. She buried at the Queen's Park Cemetery in Calgary.
Gravestone for William Hiram Morgan
Gravestone for Ida Marie (Braunagel) Morgan
