QUINDT, Harvey W., Sgt. 1924-2000

QUINDT, HELFRITZ

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/20/2011 at 23:32:11

#1:

Harvey W. Quindt, 75, of Grinnell died Wednesday, May 17, at University Hospitals in Iowa City.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday at the First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Organist was Audrey Schulz, and pallbearers were Gary Bork, Wayne Bork, Norbert Johnson, Gaylon Kittleson, Orray Knutson, Laverne Michaels and Laverne Nelson.

The Smith Funeral Home of Grinnell was in charge of arrangements.

The son of Alexander and Marie Quindt, he was born on September 12, 1924, in St. Ansgar, where he was raised and educated. He was a 1942 graduate of St. Ansgar High School.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served in World War II and the Korean Conflict with the 451st Bomber Group, 49th Wing, 15th Air Force.

He was married to Lois M. Helfritz March 7, 1948, in Lyle, Minn. They lived on various Air Force bases throughout the U.S. Following Mr. Quindt's discharge from the service in 1967, they moved to Grinnell.

He was employed by GTE until his retirement in 1987. He moved to St. Ansgar in 1988, returning to Grinnell in 1997.

Mr. Quindt was a member and past commander of the St. Ansgar American Legion Post. He was also a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell and the Retired Gunners Association of the U.S. Air Force. He was a former member of the Grinnell Odd Fellows.

Survivors include his wife, Lois of Grinnell; one daughter, Connie Van Gorp of Altoona, one son, Tom of Newton; one sister Viola Grinnen of Owatonna, Minn.; four grandchildren; and four great-grand-children.

He was preceded in death by his parents; six sisters, Elvina Miller, Marie Dahn, Martha Hallman, Molly Holm, Elizabeth Prihoda and Ruth Holm; and three brothers, Herman, Robert, and Lyle.

[ From the Grinnell Herald-Register, May 22, 2000 ]
(Credit: Connie Van Gorp)

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#2: (Clipping)

TAIL GUNNER ON
BOMBER MISSING

Alex Quindt Fails to
Return After Mission

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA — Mrs. Alex Quindt received a telegram from the war department stating that her son Sgt. Harvey W. Quindt, 19, missing in action since July in the north African area.

Sgt. Quindt was a tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber and had been in the Mediterranean theater since June, 1944. He had made major attacks on enemy aircraft factories, oil refineries and other important targets in Romania, Austria, Germany, Italy and France.

He was a graduate of the local high school in the class of 1943 and entered army service on August 24, 1943, and received his training at the Harlingen gunnery school, Texas.

Before entering the service he was employed at the Chancellor Produce and Hatchery company, St. Ansgar.

Mr. and Mrs. Quindt have one other son in the service, Robert Quindt, petty officer 1/c, stationed in the south Pacific.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Monday, August 14, 1944]

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#3:(Clipping)

St. Ansgar Gunner on
Bomber, Missing for
35 Days, Safe in Italy

St. ANSGAR, IOWA — Mrs. Alex Quindt received a letter from her Son, Sgt. Harvey Quindt, 19, gunner on a bomber, who had been missing in action for the past 35 days.

The letter dated August 31, was sent from an air base in Italy. The crew of the bomber baled out, some were taken prisoner, some fell in friendly territory, Sgt. Quindt being in the latter group. He also states that their food was poor, consisting of sour bread and water.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Thursday, September 14, 1944]

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#4:(Clipping)

Vet Flyer Discharged;
Holds 7 Battle Stars

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA — Sgt. Harvey Quindt, tail-gunner, on a B-24 Liberator bomber attached to the 15th army air forces, seeing action in Romania, Austria, Germany, Italy and France, has been honorably discharged from the army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, with 88 points.

Sgt. Quindt has been in the service for one year and 11 months and holds the air medal with three oak leaf clusters and the European theater ribbon with seven battle stars.

One year ago July 26, Sgt Quindt and others of the crew were compelled to bail out in action. He was reported missing, but fell in friendly territory and resumed his duties as a tail gunner for nearly one more year.

He will live with his mother, Mrs. Marie Quindt, and has accepted a position with his former employer, Alva Chancellor who operates the St. Ansgar Farmer's Poultry service.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, July 28, 1945]
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#5:

SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX:

QUINDT, HARVEY W.
B: 12 Sep 1924
D: 17 May 2000
AGE: 75
RES: 50112 (Grinnell, Poweshiek, IA)
SSN: Iowa 481-20-0460
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#6:

NOTES:
Harvey married Lois Helfritz in 1948.

Harvey and Lois were (or will be) buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Mona, Iowa. The cemetery listing on IaGenWeb shows:

Quindt, Harvey W.; Sep. 12, 1924 --- May 17, 2000

Quindt, Lois M.; 1926 --- unknown

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#7:

Photo of Harvey, circa 1944.

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