Harvey Elwood Gann

He was born November 28, 1920 in Detroit, Michigan to the late William Aldridge Gann and Mattie Beatrice Gann. Harvey’s family moved to Del Valle, Texas when he was a toddler. His father worked as a blacksmith on the land that would later become Bergstrom Air Force Base. He graduated from Austin High School and then began driving a dump truck to help build the Bergstrom Air Force Base when WWII began.

He was drafted into the Army Air Corp and served from 1942 – 1945. He was a gunner on a B24 Bomber. During a mission, his plane sustained heavy damage from ME 109s. Harvey was the only crew member to escape the burning plane. He was captured by the Germans and was a POW for 15 months, escaping 3 times, captured and on the 4th escape he made his way through Russia to freedom, just as the war ended. He wrote a book, “Escape I Must,” recounting his WWII experience, which he sold at the Fredericksburg Trade Days for many years, touching many lives.

After the war ended, he returned to Austin and met Evelyn Sims and worked as a house painter. They married and had two daughters and have been married 77 years, living in Lago Vista on Lake Travis in the home they built together. He was approached while on a painting job to become a police officer. He served for 38 years before retiring from the Austin Police Department, rising to the rank of Major. He served most of his career in Vice and Narcotics. He served as the Texas Narcotics Officer Association President, and was a member of the Lago Vista Lions Club and the Austin Saengerrunde.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Sims Gann; daughters, Deborah Ledesma (Richard Ledesma) of Lago Vista, Texas; Sandra Allen (Dale Allen) of Lacey, Washington; and grandchildren, Joshua Allen (Ellen Lnenicka) and Susannah Allen Lozen (Bobby Lozen) of Loveland, Colorado; Rebecca Allen Rojas (Daniel Rojas) of Lacey, Washington; and Benjamin Allen (Aileen Dean) of Spokane, Washington. Their 15 great grandchildren are their pride and joy, along with many other relatives and friends.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the 100 Club of Central Texas.