GELDER, Arnold H. 1919-1943

GELDER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/3/2016 at 07:24:28

Arnold Gelder Dies in African Battle on July 22

Is Second Wellsburg Youth To Be Killed In Action In World War

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Gelder received word Saturday, Sept. 4 from the war department that their son, Pfc. Arnold Gelder, age 24, had been killed in action July 22 in North Africa. He was inducted into the army October 19, 1942. He went to Camp Wood, Texas, and from there to Camp Pickett, Va. He arrived in Africa in May, 1943.

Arnold has three brothers in the army, Sgt. Stoffer, now at sea enroute to some foreign destination, Cpl. Gerrett in New Orleans, La., and Pfc. Leonard in Camp Claiborne.

Pfc. Dick Gelder, another brother, was given an honorable discharge a month ago due to heart trouble, and is now at home.

This is the second casualty for Wellsburg since the war began. The other was Franklin Jaspers, who was killed in action in the Pacific last winter.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 8 September 1943, pg 1

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Military Services For Arnold Gelder Held Last Sunday

Funeral services for Pfc. Arnold H. Gelder, whose body arrived Saturday morning from the Chicago distribution center, were held Sunday afternoon. The body was accompanied by Cpl. John D'Antonio of Ft. Sheridan, Ill., who is an escort from the distribution center at Chicago.

There was a short service at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Gelder, Sr., northwest of Wellsburg in charge of Rev. J. H. Rubingh of the Second Christian Reformed Church and Rev. C. Swyter of Steamboat Rock. Music was furnished by a ladies quartet.

A military service in charge of the local Ashing-Jaspers Post No. 213, was conducted at the Wellsburg Reformed Cemetery and the body was consigned to its last resting place.

Pfc. Arnold H. Gelder was born March 28, 1919 and was killed in action July 22, 1943 in the North Africa area during the invasion of Sicily. He was sworn into the service at Camp Dodge, Iowa and received his training at Camp Hood, Texas and Camp Picket, Virginia, before being sent overseas.

Immediate surviving relatives are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Gelder, Sr., six brothers, Henry Gelder of Forrest City, Iowa; Dick Gelder, Jr. at home; Stoffer Gelder of Kamrar, Iowa; Gerrit Gelder of Des Moines; Leonard Gelder of Wellsburg; Dores Gelder of Sauk Rapids, Minn. Five sisters, Mrs. Frank Cornelius of Cedar Falls; Mrs. Elton Huisman of Titonka, Iowa; Violet, Annie and Fannie at home.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 19 August 1948, pg 1