Luvern Harding Witmer (1915-1944)

WITMER, GEARHART, MATHER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal October 27, 1948 (page 4)

Military Services For S-Sgt. LuVerne Witmer

Final military rites were held Thursday afternoon, Oct. 21, in the Maxwell Methodist church for Staff Sgt. LuVern H. Witmer, whose body arrived in Maxwell 1:10 Tuesday morning, Oct. 19.

Services with full military honors were in charge of his pastor, Rev. C. R. Fitz.

Mrs. Harold Mahler, accompanied by Mrs. Ina Larsen at the piano sang "Beyond the Sunset" and "Sleep Soldier Boy Sleep."

The many and beautiful flowers were cared for by Mrs. Clara Trotter, Mrs. R. J. Brown and Mrs. Glen Cummings. The pall bearers, cousins of the deceased were Ardene Young and Loren Ritz of Des Moines, Willis Cook, Clark Cook and James Hayes of Marshalltown and Marold Witmer of Maxwell.

Burial was in the Maxwell cemetery with the Veterans of Foreign Wars conducting their ritualistic service at the graveside.

Obituary

LuVern Harding Witmer was born July 17, 1915 at Maxwell, Iowa to Frank and Hazel Mather Witmer and died December 25, 1944, on Peleliu Island in the Pacific as the result of a compound fractured skull incurred when he was struck by a jeep. He was 29 years, five months and eight days old at the time of his death.

LuVerne or "Sam" as he was called by his many friends, started to school and graduated from Maxwell High school in 1933, under the same superintendent John W. Piercy. He was active in baseball and football while in high school.'

He became a member of the Methodist church in Maxwell when he was 10 years of age and spent his entire life in Maxwell with the exception of six months in California and two and one-half years in the armed services.

Before entering service he worked at the Ankeny Ordnance plant.

After spending several months in various army camps in the United States he embarked for over seas duty in the South Pacific from Camp Stoneham, Calif. in May of 1944, and was wounded in action once before his fatal injuries on the Christmas night of his death.

While in service he was awarded the Good Conduct Ribbon, Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

LuVern was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, No. 849 of Des Moines.

Survivors

Surviving, besides his parents, are one sister, (Genevieve) Mrs. Marion Gearhart of Richmond, Calif., one nephew, Wayne Earl Gearhart, a niece, Nancy Ann Gearhart; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Witmer of Maxwell; grandfather, Bruce Mather of Cedar Rapids; several aunts and uncles and a host of cousins and friends.

Those present from out-of-town were Bruce Mather from Cedar Rapids, Walter Hostettler of Portland, Ore., Mr. and Mrs. Loren Ritz, Mrs. Kate Doolittle, Mrs. Lois John and three daughters and Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Young, all of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Lund and Mr. and Mrs. Clair Adams of Zearing, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Westfall of Mingo, and Mr. and Mrs. John Witmer, Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Kimberly and Mrs. Dan Wear of Collins.