Eilks, Carl Janssen 1896-1918

EILKS, FRERICHS

Posted By: Janet Schuldt Schuldt (email)
Date: 1/22/2019 at 12:35:08

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Le Mars, Plymouth, Iowa Friday, November 22, 1918

BRIDE MOURNS HIM

CARL EILKS PASSES AWAY IN ENGLISH HOSPITAL

LAYS DOWN LIFE FOR COUNTRY

The Deceased Was a Popular Young Brunsville Business Man and Is Mourned by His Young Wife, Many Relatives, and Friends

After having patiently waited eight weeks for a letter from her husband, Mrs. Carl Eilks, Wednesday received the sad news that her husband had died at an army hospital in England on September 30th, 1918.

Carl Janssen Bilks was born near Brunsville, September 30, 1896. His school days he spent at the Washington public school and the parochial school of Grant, finishing up with a two-year high school course at Sioux City.

After having been confirmed, he worked for a while on the farm of one of his brothers. One-year Carl spent in the hardware store with Fred Dirks in Brunsville and this last spring he went into partnership with his brother-in-law, Johnson Frerichs, conducting a flourishing garage.

February 5th, 1918, Carl was married to Miss Marie Gretzlne Frerichs and they both lived happy family life, lovingly devoted to each other until the time when Charles was summoned to the colors.

July 23rd, he left with the large LeMars contingent for Camp Gordon, Ga., later being transferred to Camp Merritt, N. J. In both of these camps Carl was assigned for special duty as bandsman and bugler as he was quite a cornet player, once upon a time the leading cornetist of the Brunsville band.

On September 15 Carl left for France to assist the Yanks in their victorious drive. However, Carl never did cross the Channel. Upon his arrival in England, he suffered an attack of Spanish influenza and in spite of the care of the American doctors and nurses, Carl died of pneumonia at the Hurley hospital. Hurley Park, England, September. 30, 1818. On his very birthday, be dying for a cause that gave, birth to a new era of liberty and freedom for the entire world.

October 3 his Interment took place at the Morn Hill Cemetery with full military honors. The service was conducted by U. S. A. Chaplain McGuigan and Lieut. W. J. O'Connor, representative of the A. R. C. Three volleys were fired over his grave by a squad of non-commissioned officers and the impressive services by the last call of” taps."

Carl Eilks died as an American and as a Christian. At Brunsville he was a faithful member of St. Peter's Lutheran church. He was more than beloved by all our fellow citizens and the sympathy was shown to Mrs. Marie Eilks in the hour of her sorrow and grief is more than ordinary.

Besides his sorrowing wife, Carl leaves five brothers, Ben, George. John, Henry and Herman Eilks. Both his father and mother preceded him in death.

A special memorial service will be held in Carl's honor next Sunday evening at 7:30 o'clock at the Brunsville church. Although on foreign soil, may he rest in peace until the final trumpet sounds the universal "taps" of the Savior in whom he firmly believed