Edd Mahanke

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Military Service
War: WWI
Branch: U.S. Army
Entered: 6 August 1918

Personal Details
Born: 12 November 1891
Died: 9 October 1918
Parents: Henry F. and Anna (Olsen) Mahanke

Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery
Parkersburg, Iowa

The people of this community were shocked last Thursday when the sad news reached here that Edd Mahanke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mahanke, had died in France of pneumonia on the 9th of October.

--The Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 11 December 1918, pg 4

Obituary Of Ed. Mahanke

One of North Grundy's Boys Gave Life for Country

Five months after his death Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Mahanke, of Pleasant Valley township, have been able to gain some information of their son's death overseas, and we are furnished with the following obituary of his life:

Edd Mahanke was born November 12, 1891, and died October 9, 1918. He was a member of Co. No. 9, S.A.R.D. Inf. at Camp MacArthur, Tex. and a member of the Parkersburg Beaver Camp No. 376 Modern Woodmen of America. He had always resided in Pleasant Valley Township where his ability and industriousness proved his success in farming and for the past four years he had rented and worked one of his father's farms. He was one of Grundy county's contingent of three which left for Jefferson Barracks, on August 6, 1918, the other two boys joined on regular call and Edd to fill vacancy caused by the rejection of one previously sent. He arrived at Camp Merritt, N.J., on September 20 and sailed from the U.S. September 23 on the Steamship President Grant and arrived at St. Nazaire, France, on Oct. 7th, on that date he was admitted to Base Hospital No. 101 direct from convoy with lobar pneumonia, and died October 9, in this hospital at 3:40 p.m.

Edd believed on the Lord Jesus and had unlimited faith in God, always accepting uncomplainingly all disappointments and unfulfilled desires saying "God knows best what is for my final good." His first thot always was to save others from sorrow or trouble and even when he heard the voice of his Heavenly Father lovingly calling him to come home, he did not go to his own eternal peace and happiness without first preparing his loved ones and giving all the comfort in his power. As it has occurred in many other instances in the war he seemed to appear to his mother coming over the thousands of miles of land and water to put his arms around her, kiss her and in his pleasant, cheery voice say "I am all right, mamma dear, but this time I am going where I can't come back." To which the brave mother heart answered "alright Edd."

All who came in contact with Edd were his friends and considered it a privilege to know such a generous upright young man. His principles and ideals were always the highest and in all his dealings whether business or friendly honesty and fairness was his aim. In the heart of everyone, Edd's many friends and loved ones, there will always be a grateful remembrance of his friendship and a realization that even though God judged best to take this worthy life in youth that he accomplished a wonderful mission in life by proving to us who remain, the value of a clean, wholesome, upright life. The most sincere sympathy is extended to Edd's mother, father, and sister by all who knew him and realize the extent of their great loss. (By a friend.)

I cannot say, and I will not say,
That you are dead--you are just away.
With a cheery smile and a wave of your hand,
You have wandered into an unknown land
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be since you linger there,
Mild and gentle, as you were brave
When the sweetest love of your life you gave,
I think of you the same, I say
You are not dead--you are just away.
--Mother

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 May 1919, pg 4

Quite a few from around here attended the funeral of Ed Mahanke on Tuesday afternoon. Ed died in France almost two years ago.

--The Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 October 1920, pg 6