John Nicholas Watgen, 81, of Elgin, retired in 1983 as an inspector for Northern Illinois Gas Co., Elgin, now Nicor Gas, after 35 years of service. Mr. Watgen, who was born in Batavia Township, died Saturday, Sept. 9, in Rosewood Care Center, Elgin. Mr. Watgen graduated from Marmion Military Academy, Aurora, in the mid-1930s. He served with an artillery battalion attached to the 3rd U.S. Army, under the command of Gen. George S. Patton, in Europe during World War II. After the war Mr. Watgen was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. “He was in the 257th field artillery,” said his wife of 52 years, Theodora. “They were with Patton. They chased the Germans across France and Germany. They met up with the Russians at the Elbe River. I wrote to him every day. I waited for him. We were married in 1947.” Other survivors include a daughter, Diana Yearman; a son, Philip; and a granddaughter. Prayers will be said at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St., Elgin, followed by a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Laurence Catholic Church, Jewett and Standish Streets, Elgin.
