Landmesser, William W. (William Walter), 1904-2003

William W. Landmesser was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa on August 29, 1904 to railroad worker William N. Landmesser and his wife Marjorie. William W. eventually settled in Minnesota with his wife, Grace, and their two daughters. He worked in the railroad industry in the Midwest and abroad for over 40 years.

William W. began working for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway Company in 1920 as a clerk in the Sales Department, and has risen to superintendent of the Mechanical Department by 1960, when he was laid off at the sale of the company to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. After being laid off, William W. was hired on a contract basis by the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, where he worked as an advisor on operation, maintenance, and repair of diesel locomotives.

After William W. and wife returned to Minnesota, he worked odd jobs, mostly in the the oil industry, until his retirement in 1970. William W. died December 6, 2003, at the age of 99 in Red Wing, Minnesota.

William N. Landmesser lived in Oskaloosa, Iowa and in Minneapolis, where he worked as a machinist and welder for the Iowa Central Railway from 1902-circa 1932. Along with his son, William W., he was a member of the International Association of Machinists, joining in 1911.

From the guide to the William W Landmesser and family papers., 1902-1995., (Minnesota Historical Society)