Hansell, William Elzy 'Willie' 1897 - 1920

HANSELL, SMITH

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/5/2022 at 17:17:01

Elkader Register, Thur., 30 Sept. 1920. Fairview column.

Our community was called on again to mourn the death of one of her soldier sons last week. Willie Hansell died at the U.S. General hospital at Otee, North Carolina, on Sept. 17th and was buried from the Bethel church, Sept. 23.

He was the oldest son of Edward and Node Hansell [sic] and was born in Mallory township, April 11, 1897. He had always lived and worked here among us until the Great War broke out calling so many of our brave boys into the service of their country.

He was inducted into the army Sept. 4, 1918 and was sent to Camp Dodge. I April of 1919 he re-enlisted for a year. In a few months after his re-enlistment he came down with tuberculosis induced by a severe attack of influenza during the first winter of his army service. He has been cared for ever since in the government sanitarium used expressly for soldiers sick as he was. The summer months have been passed merely waiting his final summons and discharge from the warfare of life.

He leaves four brothers, Lewis, Walter, Howard and John, a sister, Blanch. His father preceded him in death but his mother is still living to miss her first born.

His body arrived in Osterdock on the 22nd but the funeral services were not held until the next afternoon. Rev. Riggs of the Fairview church had charge of them while the body was under the care of Mr. Platt from Colesburg. A male quartette from Colesburg rendered appropriate music.

His pallbearers were all soldier boys among them being Joey B. Brown, Martin Friedlein, Dale Brown, Willie Tinkey, Bud Moser.

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Note: Son of James Edward & Lenora 'Nora' (Smith) Hansel; both also buried in Bethel cemetery