(KLZA)-- A Falls City community leader, businessman and war hero is being remembered. 

George William “Bill” Schock died Thursday at the age of 99.

Schock served as the publisher of the Falls City Journal  for many years.  He served more than 30 years on the Richardson  County Veterans Service  Committee; served a term as a Falls City Council member and two terms on the Falls City  Board of  Education.  In addition he served on the Community Hospital Board of Directors for over two decades and was a member of the  Board of Directors of the Falls City Savings and Loan Association and on the Committee for Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve.

Schock was a B-17 bomber pilot during World War II, flying out of England. On April 9, 1944 flying his 25th mission, and supposedly his  last, his plane was shot down, and he became a German prisoner of war  for 13 months. 

Following his May, 1945 release, Schock returned to Falls City and a year later returned to his job at the Falls City Journal, where he worked and co-owned well into his 90's.

A funeral service for Schock will be Tuesday morning, June 26 at 10:30 at the First United Methodist Church, in Falls City. 

Schock is survived by a daughter, Lauri Obbink.