Everett Samuel Ihle (1916-1944)

IHLE, CREW

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal July 22, 1944 (page 3)

Flight Officer Ihle Laid to Rest with Full Military Honors

Slater, July 22--Funeral services for Flight Officer Everett S. Ihle were held Wednesday afternoon. A brief prayer service was held at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Ihle, at 1:30 o'clock. Services were held at the Bethlehem Lutheran church at 2 o'clock. The body arrived here Monday evening under military escort.

The church was filled to overflowing with sorrowing relatives and friends. A large number were seated in the church basement where they heard the services by means of a loud speaker. Rev. P. E. Onstad had charge of the services, assisted by Rev. E. R. Rorem of Story City, a former pastor.

The floral offerings paid silent tribute to the memory of the departed and were unusually large and beautiful. They were arranged by Mrs. Clarence Ryg and Mrs Edgar Accola.

The American Legion Post of Ames preceded the funeral procession and concluded the service at the cemetery where firing squad, bugler and chaplain took part.

A large number of gifts of money in his memory were presented to the missions, the Bethlehem Sunday School, the Dorcas Circle and the American Red Cross.

A quartette composed of Rev. P. E. Onstad, Mrs. Roland Swanson, Miss Lucille Estem and Philip Lehman sang two songs, "Jesus Saviour Pilot Me," and "Under His Wings" Rev. Onstad sang a solo, "Come Ye Disconsolate." Mrs. Harold Croft played the accompaniments.

The pall bearers were from army airports at Ames and Des Moines with the exception of Herb Plambeck of WHO, Des Moines. The remainder were Arnold Johnson and Leo Brennan of the Des Moines airport, Earl Shivers, Charley Barr and Bob Larson, flight instructors from Ames airport. Burial was made in the Bethlehem cemetery in Slater.

Everett Samuel Ihle was born January 9th, 1916 at Slater, Iowa, and died July 14, 1944 near Chatanooga, Tenn., in a plane crash. He was 28 years, 6 months and 4 days old. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Nels Ihle.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

He attended the Slater schools and was prominent in athletics, music and other activities, and graduated in 1934. He helped his father on the farm and was active in 4-H club work.

He attended Luther College at Decorah, and later went to Burbank, Calif., where he was employed at the Lockheed airplane company.

He entered officers candidate school in September, 1943, at Memphis, Tenn. On completing the course, he was assigned to ferrying bombers overseas, and had made six trips across. He was ready to leave to overseas duty when he was appointed personal pilot to Gen. Scott of the U. S. army with headquarters at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

He was on a mission to Atlanta, Georgia, when the plane encountered a severe electrical storm and an explosion occurred, taking the lives of the entire party. Gen. Scott was not with the party but Gen. Newgarden was in his place.

Everett was married Dec. 27, 1943 to Mary Alice Crew of Cedar Rapids, who formerly taught in the Slater schools.

He is mourned by his wife, his parents, one sister, Elizabeth Ihle, two brothers, Amund Ihle of Slater and Cyrus Ihle of Des Moines, and a large number of relatives and friends. The entire community extend their deepest sympathy to the grief-stricken wife, parents and family.

Among those present from a distance were Mrs. E. S. Ihle and mother, Mrs. W. H. Crew, and Miss Julia Crew of Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Ihle of Des Moines; Mrs. Gertrude Webster of Bountiful, Utah; Mr. and Mrs. Hobart Bare and daughter, Margaret Ann of Mt. Vernon; Staff Sgt. Elihu Highland of Warrensburg, Mo.; Mrs. Elihu Highland of Bricelyn, Minn.; Mrs. Godelia Jorenson of Sherburn, Minn.; Mrs. Ole Highland and Miss Ingebor Highland of Fort Dodge; Mr. and MRs. Amos Houge, Thorben Houge, and Mrs. Severt Houge of Superior, Ia.; E. O. Ihle and Miss Mildred Ihle of Emmetsburg; Flight Officer Robert Hunt of Blythe, Calif.; Pvt. Rodney Sutter of Santa Maria, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Olson of Jewell; Supt. and Mrs. E. Schindler, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Airy, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hagensick, Mrs. Chas. Callahan, Mrs. Raymond Prescott and Jackie Dean of Nevada.

Rev. and Mrs. E. R. Rorem, Mr. and Mrs. Torres Nerem, Mrs. Bertha Gandrup, Mrs. Burton Gandrup and Mrs. Thelma Smith of Story City; Dr. and Mrs. Fred Peel, Mrs. Maxine Klinefeldt and W. H. Smith of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Ersland, Mr. A. Anderson, Mrs. Naomi Fries, Mrs. Haldor Lein, Lucile Lein, Mrs. Nettie Johsnon and Mrs. Chas. Barr of Ames; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Jagerson of Madrid; Mrs. Ed Erickson of Estherville; Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Christopher, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Vespestad and Mrs. Tomena Apland of Cambridge.

The large American flag which covered the casket was removed following the commital services and presented to the wife.