Ykema, Bernard 1922-1945

YKEMA

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 9/13/2013 at 22:45:28

Source: Hawarden Independent (3-1-1945)
Source: Sioux Center News (3-1-1945)

Funeral services for T/5 Bernard Ykema, whose body arrived today from overseas, will be held at the Ross-Frazier Funeral Home in Hawarden at two P.M., Saturday with Rev. H. Benjamin of the Lebanon Christian Reformed Church officiating.

It will be a military funeral with the Two Oakes Post of the American Legion in charge. Pall bearers will be Ed and Elmer Van Egdom, Hans Burgers, Henry Coulander, Gerrit Huenink and Richard Bonnema. Interment will be in Grace Hill Cemetery.

T/5 Ykema was a war victim in February 1945, while serving in a tank unit. He entered the service in December,1943, and received basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida. He was home on a furlough in 1944 just before he sailed overseas. He landed in England and from there went to Germany and Belgium.

Shortly before his parents were advised of his death they received the Purple Heart which was awarded their son when he suffered burns on his hands while on duty. In a letter to his parents Ykema stated that he was in a rest camp in Luxembourg, but evidently had gone back to the front shortly afterwards.He was killed in action in Germany February 10.

At the time of his death, three of his brothers were in service. Pvt. Lawrence Ykema was stationed on the Hawaiian Islands; Lt. August Ykema was a co-pilot on a B-24 Liberator reconnaissance plane in the Philippines, and Staff Sgt. Tony Ykema was in the headquarters of the 47th bomb group in Italy.

Bernard Ykema was born on a farm near Hawarden August 6, 1922, and until he entered the service he lived here. Survivors are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ykema; five brothers, August of Sioux Center, Tony of Oklahoma City, and Lawrence ,Melvin and Norman of Hawarden, and three sisters, Mrs. Joyce Feenstra of Hudsonville, Michigan, and Madelyn and Anita Ykema of Hawarden.

The News joins the entire community in extending sincere sympathy to the bereaved family and in the deep hope that their other three sons may return safely.