Robert R. Davis 1948-1970

DAVIS, LANGERUD, LEVAD, DECONCINI, DAVIES

Posted By: Ken Moen (email)
Date: 3/29/2011 at 13:43:08

Funeral services for Sergt. Robert Roy Davis will he held at 10:30 Saturday morning at the Forest City United Methodist church. The Rev. Max E. Goldman will officiate assisted by Bernard Bliss, minister of the Fertile Church of Christ, and Father E.W. Lechtenberg of Buffalo Center. Frank Johnson, a classmate at Forest City high school, will be the soloist and Mrs. Lloyd Thorsheim, organist. Burial will be in Oakland cemetery with the Olson funeral home in charge of arrangements. According to Capt. Dennis Lewis of Ames, ranking military advisor for Iowa, a detachment of 13 men is being sent to Forest City Friday from the Headquarters company of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to serve as an honor guard for the funeral services.

Military honors paid Sgt. Robert Davis Saturday
Forest City paid final tribute last Saturday to the memory of Sgt. Robert R. Davis, killed in action in Vietnam Feb. 11. In silent homage the post office flag stood at half mast and others flew along both sides of Clark Street.

An honor guard of thirteen soldiers from the Headquarters Company at Ft. Leavenworth, Kans. took part in the funeral and graveside rites; smart, dignified and meticulous in the performance of military honors during the service.

The Methodist church was filled to capacity with the family and friends of young Davis, known and loved by so many.

Sgt. Davis was born Sept. 23, 1948 in Forest City, the son of Helen and Delton Davis. He was educated in the Fertile and Forest City schools and was a member of the Fertile Church of Christ.

For the last ten years his home had been in Forest City where he was active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship of the local United Methodist church. He was an enthusiastic member of varsity sports in high school and a popular student.

On March 30, 1968 he was married to Mary Margaret Langerud and they are parents of one son, Thomas Patrick.

Sgt. Davis attended NIAC College at Mason City and the Electronic Computer Programming Institute. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Nov. 23, 1968 and received basic training at Ft. Polk, La. He later attended Non-Commissioned Officers' School at Ft. Benning, Ga., where he was named "outstanding NCO" of his company. He completed advanced training at Ft. Ord, Calif., Nov. 25, 1969, after which he spent the month of December in Forest City with his family before going to Vietnam in early January.

At the family's request, PFC Edward J. Benson of Monterey, Calif., long time friend of the sergeant and his family, served as official escort to the body on its trip from the west coast to Forest City.

In the eulogy during the service, the Rev. Max Goldman quoted from the sergeant's last letter to his wife, Mary (Langerud) Davis, dated Feb. 5.
"Dear Mary, Today was another day away from you. It also means that I am one day closer to seeing you. I like to think of it the second way as it makes one feel better..." Later the letter concludes with, "I'm writing this letter by candlelight and the candle is buring out. So I had better go. Write soon and give my love to Tommy... 'Bye for now, Bob."

Rev. Goldman ended his sermon which had been in form of a letter to the sergeant, with: "It may be, Bobby, that in the world mankind's candle is burning out, but we will try to light it anew and keep it burning. And so we say, 'bye for now and thank you - for everything."

The Rev. Max Goldman, Bernard Bliss of Fertile and the Rev. E.W. Lechtenberg of Buffalo Center shared in conducting the service held Feb 21 at 10:30 a.m. in the United Methodist church. Mrs. Lloyd Thorsheim was organist and Frank Johnson was soloist. Casket bearers were Mike Ebaugh, Stuart Goldman, Ken Groh, Lyle Hanna, Jim Levad and Steve Pederson. Ushers were Richard R. Hudson and classmates Tim Anderson and Riley Lewis.

Interment was at Oakland Cemetery with the military presenting flags to Sergeant Davis' wife and to his mother, Mrs. Helen Davis. The firing squad fired three volleys and the bugler played taps. Olson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his wife and son, his mother, Mrs. Helen Davis of Forest City; his father, Delton Davis of Sioux City; two sister, Mrs. David (Betty Jo) Levad of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Mrs. James (Kathy) DeConcini of St. Paul, Minn., and his grandmothers, Mrs. Roy Davis of Fertile and Mrs. Joseph Davies of Madelia, Minn.

~news clippings Feb 11, 1970 from the Leibrand & White Private Collection
__________
For more information & a photo of Sgt Davis, visit the Winnebago co. IAGenWeb site. Click on Military Records.

Winnebago co. IAGenWeb
 

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen