Wasmer, John 1899-1918

WASMER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/30/2012 at 09:59:33

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
January 25, 1918

ANSWERS THE CALL
JOHN WASMER FIRST LE MARS YOUTH TO DIE IN SERVICE
SUFFERS ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA
Youth Volunteered Last April When Barely Eighteen Years of Age and Joined
Co. K
Was Transferred to 168th Infantry Now in France.

John Wallace Wasmer is the first LeMars youth to die in the service of his
country. News of his death somewhere in France was conveyed to his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Wasmer, in a telegram from the war office at Washington,
D.C., received on Tuesday morning. The dispatch signed by Adjutant General
McCain said: “Deeply regret to inform you that first class private, John
Wasmer, infantry, is officially reported to have died of pneumonia.”

The news of the young man’s death was a great shock to his family and
friends as only a day before letters were received from him, saying he was
well and enjoying life.

John Wasmer volunteered for service last April when barely eighteen years of
age and joined Company K, Second Iowa Infantry. The company went into
training at Camp Faber. With sixty-eight other Plymouth County boys from
Company K, he was transferred to the camp at Des Moines, and attached to the
168th Infantry. The regiment was ordered from there to Camp Mills, Long
Island, and left for France on November 14.

John Wasmer was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Wasmer, of this city. He
was born on April 19, 1899, at Monroe, Louisiana. When a baby his parents
moved from there to Sioux City, and when he was four years old they went to
Hawarden. John received his education in Hawarden, attending St. Anthony’s
school. The family moved to LeMars four years ago from Hawarden. John
assisted his father in the laundry business and later was employed with
Kilburg-Rickabaugh company being in the employ of that firm when he joined
the army.

He is deeply mourned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Wasmer, his two
sisters, Marie, of this city, and Aloysius, who is attending school at
Clinton, his aunt, Mrs. J. A. Prairie, and his cousin, Mrs. A. J. St. Onge,
of Sioux City, and a large number of friends.

John Wasmer was a member of Trinity council, Knights of Columbus, of this
city.

John Wasmer was willing to fight for his country and his friends say it was
the proudest day of his life when he first donned Uncle Sam’s uniform. His
early death is to be regretted but a lasting consolation to his
grief-stricken parents and sisters is that he died in helping to uphold the
just and righteous cause of freedom.

Members of Trinity Council, Knights of Columbus, are in communication with
the adjutant general’s office at Washington, D.C., in regard to whether the
remains can be shipped home for interment, but up to yesterday afternoon had
received no definite reply.
-----------------------------
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
January 29, 1918

When information was received in LeMars of the death of John Wasmer, the
local council of Knights of Columbus took up with the War Department the
matter of having his body brought home, but have been advised that it will
probably be impossible to bring home the bodies of soldiers who died in
foreign service until after the war.
-----------------------------
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
April 2, 1918

GRAVE IS IN FRANCE
First LeMars Young Man to Die in France Given Suitable Resting Place

Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Wasmer, of this city, received a letter from Austin A.
Parker, adjutant general at Washington, D.C., yesterday. The letter
informed them that their son John Wasmer, who died while on service in
France on January 20, has been buried at Chaumont, France, in the American
cemetery at that place and the grave carefully marked. The letter also
stated that the funeral was conducted with military honors and appropriate
religious services.
-----------------------------

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, June 10, 1921

To Old Co. K Members

All soldiers who were members of Co. K, during the World War will please
meet at the Armory at 9 a.m. Monday, June 13th, in uniform, to attend the
funeral of John Wasmer, the first LeMars boy to die overseas. Rev. P. N.
McDermott, of Atlantic, state chaplain of the American Legion, will speak at
the cemetery. ~W.C. Butler, ex-first sergeant.

WASMER FUNERAL ON MONDAY
Body of John Wasmer Will Be Buried With Military Honors

L. R. Wasmer received word on Wednesday that the body of his son, John
Wasmer, who died while in France, had arrived in New Jersey and was shipped
west. The body will arrive in Omaha today and Mr. Wasmer left here for that
place to accompany the remains home.

The funeral will be held on Monday at 10 o’clock at St. James church. Rev.
Father O’Farrell, pastor, Mgr. W. A. Pape, of St. Joseph and Rev. H.
Masterton, of Cherokee, will conduct the requiem mass. Rev. Father P. F.
McDermott, of Atlantic, chaplain of the Iowa Legion, will preach the sermon.
The interment will be made in St. Joseph cemetery.

Members of the Iowa Legion, members of old Company K, and the Knights of
Columbus will attend funeral in a body.

John Wasmer was the first LeMars service man to die overseas and the Legion
Post was named Wasmer Post in memory of his name.
----------

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
June 14, 1921

FINAL HONORS PAID
FUNERAL OF YOUNG SOLDIER ATTENDED BY VAST CONCOURSE
FIRST LE MARS MAN TO DIE OVERSEAS
Long Procession of Soldiers, Service Men and Knights of Columbus Follow the
Body of John Wasmer to Its Final Resting Place

The body of John Wasmer, the first Plymouth County boy to die in France, was
buried with military honors in LeMars yesterday after having rested for two
and a half years in the soil of France. The body arrived in LeMars last
Friday from Omaha, having reached New York a couple weeks previous on a
transport that brought home several thousand soldier dead. A large crowd
turned out to pay tribute to the memory of this first Plymouth County youth
to die for his country in France.

The funeral services were held at St. James church, the pastor, Rev. Father
O’Farrell, being assisted by Mgr. Pape, Father Schultes and Rev. Father
McDermott, of Atlantic. Rev. McDermott is the chaplain of the Iowa American
Legion and delivered the funeral sermon.

The procession to the cemetery was headed by the colors, the band, the old
comrades of the deceased who belong to old Co. K, the local Legion post
which was named for the deceased Wasmer Post, the Knights of Columbus, and a
long line of friends and automobiles. The body was accorded full military
honors and all local business houses closed during the funeral.

John Wasmer was a member of Headquarters Company, 168th Infantry, and left
Camp Mills October 7th, 1918, and died in France, January 20th, 1918. John
was born April 19, 1899, and was at his death, just three months under
twenty years of age. He was reared in Hawarden, Akron and LeMars and had
many friends in this section who sincerely mourned the death of this bright
young man, but admired the patriotic devotion that made him willing to go
overseas and fight for his country and die if need be. The best the nation
can do to honor their memories is small acknowledgement of the noble
sacrifice thousands of young men made that liberty might live throughout the
world.
[Photograph of John Wasmer accompanies this news article.]

Plymouth Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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