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Wilke, Erwin H. 1920-1943

WILKE, HARNACK, WILKER, ENGELHARDT, GENTZ

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/9/2014 at 23:04:30

Elkader, Ia. - Memorial services for Lieut. Erwin Wilke, son of F.C. Wilke, of Farmersburg, Ia., were held at Clayton Center Tuesday afternoon. Lt. Wilke was shot down while on a flying mission over Sicily on July 31, 1943. He had first been reported missing in action.

Surviving are his wife; his father; a brother, Lawrence, of St. Olaf, and three sisters, Mrs. Edward Harnack, of Farmersburg, Mrs. Maudie Wilker, of Rock Island, Ill., and Mrs. Helen Engelhardt, of Farmersburg.

~Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Wednesday evening edition, June 14, 1944

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Reburial services were held for First Lieutenant Erwin H. Wilke at Zachary Taylor cemetery*, Louisville, Ky., on June 23, 1949 at 11 a.m. Fred C. Wilke, his father, Mrs. Fred H. Wilker, his sister, with her husband and son Reuben F., attended the services.

Lt. Wilke was lost in battle over the Mediterranean sea near Cesaro, Sicily and was reported missing as of July 31, 1943. Because several others perished with him in the disaster and were burned together, it was impossible to separate any of the bodies. Those in charge of such affairs in Washington decided to give them a common grave in one of the national cemeteries and the one at Louisville was chosen.

Erwin was the son of Fred C. Wilke and the former Emilie Engelhardt, born to them on March 31, 1920. He was baptized at Clayton Center by Pastor F. Athenstoldt on May 2, 1920 and confirmed at Clayton Center's Zion church by Pastor Berthold F. Korte on March 25, 1934.

Wilke graduated from Elkader high school in 1938 and attended the University of Detroit the following year. He entered the induction center at Des Moines on Nov. 8, 1941, and was sent to Kelly Field Nov. 12. He became a second lieutenant August 5, 1942.

Married Rita LaVonne Gentz of Luana.

Lt. Wilke was sent overseas on Feb. 17, 1943, as a bomber pilot. On numerous missions, he earned the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Surviving Wilke are his father, his sisters, Mrs. George Harnack, Farmersburg; Mrs. Fred H. Wilker, Rockford, Ill.; Mrs. Clarence Engelhardt, Farmersburg, and a brother Loren, of Fayette. His mother preceded him in death on Feb. 25, 1936.

~Clayton County Register, Thursday afternoon, July 7, 1949

*Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky

Gravestone on Find-A-Grave
 

Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen

 

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