Sgt. Murl Edward Sponsler 1895-1919

SPONSLER

Posted By: Debbie Truitt (email)
Date: 6/22/2018 at 09:35:56

Following are the news articles about Sgt. Sponsler’s burial in Ottumwa in Shaul Cemetery. His name was spelled Murl on his gravestone and Merl and Merle in the newspaper articles. I have transcribed the articles as written.

News Article From “Ottumwa Courier,” Wednesday, December 8, 1920:

Body of Merl Sponsler On Way Home For Burial

Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Sponsler, 715 Chester avenue, have received word from the Graves Registration department that the body of their son, Sergt. Merl Sponsler, who died while in service overseas, will arrive in New York City Tuesday, December 14.

Sergeant Sponsler was killed in an auto truck accident, June 9, 1919, at Pomerree, France. He was 23 years of age. He was a member of the M.T.C. division. The body of the former soldier boy will be brought to this city for funeral service and burial.

Article From “Ottumwa Courier,” Thursday, December 30, 1920:

SOLDIERS BODY TO ARRIVE TOMORROW

The body of Sergeant Merle Sponsler will arrive tomorrow from New York. Sergeant Sponsler was the son of Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Sponsler, 715 Chester avenue and was killed in an auto accident in France during June 1919, while in service with the Motor Mechanic division. The body will be taken to the Sulivan and Jay chapel.

Military services will be held at the funeral Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Sponsler residencet [sic]. Burial will be made in the Shaul cemetery.

Article From “Ottumwa Courier,” Friday, December 31, 1920:

FUNERAL OF MERLE SPONSLER SUNDAY

The remains of Sergeant Merle C. Sponsler, Ottumwa boy who died from injuries received in an automobile accident, while in service with the Motor Transport Corps in France on June 9, 1919, arrived this morning from overseas, accompanied by Private William Gidney of Camp Grant, Ill., who brought the body from Chicago.

The body was taken to the Sullivan and Jay undertaking parlors where the casket was opened for indentification [sic].

The funeral, which will be military, under the auspices of O.B. Nelson post No. 3, of the American Legion, will be held from the home of the soldier’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Sponsler, 715 Chester avenue, Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock and from the Davis street Christian church at 2:30 o’clock with Rev. W. Edward Prudy, officiating.

The remains will be laid to rest in the Shaul cemetery.

Article From “Ottumwa Daily Courier,” Monday, January 3, 1921:

Young Soldier Buried With Full Military Honors

The funeral of Sergeant Merle Edward Sponsler was held yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Sponsler, 230 North Davis street, and from the Davis street Christian church at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. W. Edward Purdy, pastor of the church, officiating. Full military honors were accorded the young soldier, in charge of O.B. Nelson Post No. 3 of the American Legion. Burial was made in the Shaul cemetery.

Sergeant Sponsler was born near Blakesburg Nov. 14, 1895. In September, 1908, he came with his parents to Ottumwa, where he made his home until he enlisted in the service of his country in 1918.

April 5 of that year, he left home for Kansas City, where he entered the Rathe Motor Mechanic school, remaining there until June 12, when he was transferred to Camp Jessup, Georgia. August 10, he left Georgia, arriving in Brest September 28.

He was transferred to Neulfchaute, where he was stationed until May 16, 1919, going from there to Rumacoun, where he met his death in an army truck accident, June 9, while on duty. Edward Watchler, another Ottumwan, was driving the truck. His last words were “I have done the best I can.” Sergeant Sponsler was 23 years old at the time of his death.

He received most of his education in the Ottumwa High School. At the time he answered his country’s call, Sergeant Sponsler and his brother were managing a grocery store on Chester avenue.

The young soldier is survived by his parents, three brothers and a sister, Lester of Davenport, Fred, Paul, and Hazel, who reside at home.