Among the war dead to which Muscatine and the surrounding communities paid tribute this year were Pvt. Francis Van Dolah and Sgt. Robert Van Dolah, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Van Dolah, Muscatine, rural route 1, who lost their lives in Europe during World War II.  Double services for the men were conducted on Dec. 2, in the Illinois City Methodist church.  The flag-draped caskets of the brothers are pictured above in the chapel at the Fairbanks Home for Funerals.  The casket of Sgt. Van Dolah is at the left and that of Pvt. Van Dolah at the right, with the respective military escorts, Sgt. Lloyd G. Deitrich and Sgt. John T. Desmond.  Stationed with the colors are two members of the ceremonial staff of Edward H. Bitzer post No. 27, American Legion, H. E. Plett, at left, and Frank Vorwerk.

Solemn Procession Continues Through 1948 as War Dead Are Returned Home

Flag-draped caskets, coming from the European and Pacific war theaters, were brought to Muscatine county and other neighboring communities at intervals throughout the year of 1948 as the solemn procession of the country’s war dead continued to move home.
As each casket carrying a soldier, sailor, marine or flier who died during World War II was returned, last honors were accorded to the servicemen at funeral and burial rites.  Final interment was in the cemetery chosen by his next-of-kin.

This year was the second for the government’s program of returning the bodies of war dead to the United States for burial in keeping with the wishes of their family. Inaugurated in the fall of 1947, the program has to date seen the return from overseas cemeteries of more than 50 bodies of men from this vicinity who died in the service of their country during the war.

The list of war dead returned to Muscatine and surrounding counties includes the following:

Lt. Philip R. Aikins of West Liberty, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Aikins, killed in an airplane crash in the Hawaiian territory while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps.  Burial at Oakridge cemetery in West Liberty.

Pfc. John J. Alexander of Muscatine, son of Mrs. Tom Burroughs, 1424 Cedar street, killed in action Anzio beachhead on May 31, 1944.  Burial at Memorial Park cemetery in Muscatine.

Pfc. Samuel Armstrong, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Armstrong, route 1, New Boston, Ill., formerly of Muscatine, killed in action in France on June 29, 1944.  Burial at Peniel cemetery at Joy, Ill.

Pvt. Donald M. Cohen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cohen, 502 West Eighth street, killed in action in Italy on Oct. 7, 1944.  Burial in Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Pfc. Raymond J. Darting  of Wilton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Darting, killed in New Guinea on Nov. 31, 1942.  Burial at Oakdale cemetery in Wilton.

Pvt. Marvin G. Daufeldt of Muscatine, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Daufeldt of Davenport, killed in action Jan. 25, 1945, in France.  Burial at the Moscow cemetery.

Pfc. Newell A. Dollman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dollman, 715 East Sixth street, killed in action on June 3, 1944, at Lincivio, Italy.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Sgt. Maynard L. Dunker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dunker, Illinois City, route 1, killed in action March 23. 1944, in Germany.  Burial at the Drury-Reynolds cemetery.

Pvt. Thomas W. Eland, son of Mrs. T. L. Eland of Letts and the late Dr. Eland, died Jan. 1, 1945, in Luxembourg of injuries suffered In Belgium on Dec. 31, 1944.  Burial in the cemetery at Letts.

Pfc. Theodore Mitchell Englin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus R. Englin, 1114 Mulberry avenue, killed in action in Germany on April 17, 1945.  Burial at the National cemetery at Rock Island, Ill.

Sgt. Edgar O. (Bud) Fluent, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Fluent, Moline, Ill., killed in action March 28, 1945, in Germany.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Pfc. Robert C. Freeland, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Freeland of Wilton, killed in action on Aug. 19, 1944 at Chambois, France.  Burial at Oakdale cemetery in Wilton.

Pfc. Richard O. Freers, son of Mrs. Flossie Coffin, 1308 Orchard avenue, killed in action on Guam on July 30, 1944.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Sgt. Ralph T. Fuhlman, 213 Lombard street, who lost his life in France on Sept. 25, 1944.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Technician Fifth Grade Emil W. Greibel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicoli Griebel of Bennett, who died in the Central Pacific Oct. 9, 1944.  Burial at the Inland cemetery at Bennett.

Pfc. Harold B. Guter, brother of Miss Ruby Guter, 128 West Second street, killed in action Nov. 28, 1944, in France.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Pfc. Wesley S. Hagens, husband of Mrs. Mildred Hagens, 919 Colver street, killed in action in France Dec. 23, 1944.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Pvt. Paul Hanson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hanson, 1006 Reed street, killed in action Jan. 7, 1945, in the drive on the German border at Gros Redesching.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Lt. Walter H. Hendrickson, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Hendrickson, Sr., 1708 Mulberry avenue, killed in action on Aug. 17, 1943, on a bombing mission to Cape Bonto, northwest of Anzia Italy.  Burial at Memorial Park cemetery in Muscatine.

Pfc. Everette C. Holliday, son of Mrs. Marguerite Holliday, 314 1-2 east Second street, killed in action in France on Sept. 10, 1944.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Lt. Lester E. Hutchcroft, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hutchcroft of Mediapolis, killed in action on Iwo Jima on March 15, 1945.  Burial Kossuth cemetery near Mediapolis.

Pfc. Charles LeRov Ketchum, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ketchum of West Branch, killed in action Jan. 18, 1945 in Belgium.  Burial at West Branch cemetery.

Pfc. Gerald E. Kline, formerly of Muscatine, killed in action on Saipan in 1944.  Body returned to the United States in May 1948.

Pfc. Acel Knowles, son of Mrs. Jessie Knowles of New Boston Ill., killed in action in Germany on Nov. 20, 1944.  Burial at the New Boston cemetery.

Pvt. Leslie E. Lancaster, son of Mrs. Guy Wilson of Illinois City, killed Aug. 31, 1944, in the Hawaiian territory.  Burial at the national cemetery at Jefferson Barracks, Mo.

Edward E. LeQuatte yeoman, second class, son of Mrs. E. E. LeQuatte of Aledo, Ill., who died in America Samoa March 2, 1946.  Burial at the Drury-Reynolds cemetery in Illinois.

Pfc. Orville H. Loercher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry N. Loercher of West Branch, who died in Italy of wounds received in action.  Burial at the West Branch cemetery.

Sgt. Lovell Parker McKeown, grandson of M. P. McKeown of Mediapolis, killed in action May 29, 1943, on Attu in the Aleutians.  Body returned for burial in September of this year.

Cpl. Leslie H. McKillip, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence W. McKillip of Atalissa, killed in action in Belgium Oct. 26, 1944.  Burial at the Overman  cemetery, near Atalissa.

Pfc. John Sidney Meiers of Tipton, son of John C. Meiers of Durant, killed in action in France on Aug. 2, 1944.  Burial at Tipton cemetery.

Pfc. August W. Miller, son of Mr.  and Mrs.  William Miller of Wilton, rural route 1, killed in action Nov. 17, 1944, in Germany.  Burial at the Durant cemetery.

Pvt. Homer I. Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eldo Mitchell of Tipton, who died of wounds received in action in Belgium on Jan. 25, 1945.  Burial at the Evergreen cemetery near Cedar Bluff.

Pvt. Byron A. Oelhert son of Mrs. Caroline Olhert and the late Samuel J. Oehlert of Belle Plain, who died of wounds on Mendanao, Philippine Island, June 20, 1945.  Burial at Oakdale cemetery at Wilton.

Sgt. Lawrence Owen, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Owen of Lone Tree, killed in action in Italy on April 6, 1944.  Burial in the Lone Tree cemetery.

Tech. Sgt. Orian G. Owens of West Liberty, son of George H. Owens of Lisbon, killed in Belgium during the war.  Burial at Lisbon.

William Frederick Pankratz, firemen, second class, son of Mrs. Alvina Gross, 711 roscoe avenue, who died in the line of duty in the Pacific area May 2, 1943.  Burial at Princeton, Mo.

Second Lt. Carl F. Poole, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Poole of Nichols, who lost his life in Burma May 30, 1945.  Burial at the Nichols cemetery.

First Lt. Khairom H. Rummells, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harolde Rummells, of Iowa City, formerly of Nichols, killed in action Jan. 16, 1945, in Belgium.  Body returned from Europe in July of 1948.

Pfc. Clarence C. Schlichting, son of Mrs. Katherine Allbee, 1178 Hershey avenue, killed in action Feb. 22, 1945, in Alsace-Lorraine.  Burial at Parr cemetery at Pleasant Prairie.  

Pvt. Harold R. Schreiber, husband of Mrs. Betty Schreiber, 707 West Fourth street, killed in action in France on Feb. 9, 1945.  Burial at Greenwood cemetery in Muscatine.

Pfc. Glenn Schwedtfeger, of Bettendorf, formerly of West Liberty, killed in action March 1, 1945, on Iwo Kima.  Burial in Mt. Calvary cemetery in West Liberty.

Pfc . Merle E. Scott, son of Mrs. Josie M. Scott of Columbus Junction, who died March 9, 1944, from wounds received in action in Bougainville.  Burial at Columbus City.

Pvt. George Stackhouse, formerly of Muscatine, son of George C. Stackhouse of Dumont, Ia., killed in action in the North African theater Feb. 14, 1943.  Burial at Dumont.

Sgt. Jack Stanley, son of Mrs. May Stanley of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Wapello, killed in action on Saipan on June 17, 1944.  Burial in the Wapello cemetery.

Sgt. Norman O. Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin L. Thomas of Illinois city, killed in action Aug. 8, 1943, in Sicily.  Burial at the Illinois City cemetery.

Pfc. William H. Thumma, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Thumma of West Branch, killed in action in the North African theater Feb. 15, 1943.  Burial at the West Branch cemetery.

Cpl. Rudy B. Tonkovich, son of Mrs. Helen Tonkovich, Durant, route 1, killed on Iwo Jima on March 26, 1945.  Burial in Memorial Park cemetery at Moline, Ill.

Theodore R. Tucker, electrician’s mate first class, son of Mrs. W. S. Denham of Columbus Junction, who died in service near Pearl Harbor Aug. 17, 1944.  Burial at Elm Grove cemetery at Washington, Ia.

Pvt. Francis Van Dolah, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Van Dolah, Muscatine, rural route 1, killed in action in Germany of Feb. 21, 1945.  Burial in the Illinois City cemetery.

Sgt. Robert Van Dolah, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Alfred Van Dolah, Muscatine rural route 1, died in a British hospital in northern Italy on Nov. 17, 1944.  Burial in Illinois City cemetery.

Staff Sgt. Dwain N. Whitmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Whitmer, of Wilton, killed in action in Holland Oct. 31, 1845.  Burial in Oakdale cemetery at Wilton.

Staff Sgt. Raymond E. Wunnenburg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Wunnenberg, Mediapolis, killed in action in a fall in Italy May 12, 1945.  Burial in the Loper cemetery, near Sperry, Ia.

Second Lt. Elmer K. Yakish, son of Mrs. Ben Jehle of Lone Tree, who died March 2, 1945, of wounds in action in Germany.  Burial at the Lone Tree cemetery.

Gwyen A. Ziegenhorn, seaman, first class, husband of Mrs. Ruth Ziegenhorn, rural route 4, killed Dec. 1, 1943, in New Guinea.  Burial at memorial Park cemetery in Muscatine.

Source: The Muscatine Journal, December 30, 1948 pg 8

Transcribed by Lynn McCleary, Sep 2014

 

Bodies of Four Muscatine County Veterans Being Sent Back for Burial 

Bodies of four Muscatine county war dead are being returned to the United States aboard the U. S. Army Transport Barney Kirschbaum coming from Europe with war dead originally interred in France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.

According to an announcement by the Army today, the 76 bodies being returned upon instructions of next of kin residing in Iowa include:

Tech. Sgt. Mearl E. Daufeldt, air force, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Daufeldt, 2116 West Fifth street, Davenport, formerly of Muscatine.

Tech. Sgt. Karle E. Kolmerer, air force, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl A. Kolmerer, 913 East Sixth street, Muscatine.

Pvt. Dale C. Motis, army, husband of Marian L. Motis, 1019 Calhoun street, West Liberty.

Pvt. Clarence A. Plank, army, son of Jessie L. Freise, 1232 Dale street, Muscatine.

Plans for burial in Muscatine of the bodies of Tech. Sgt. Kolmerer and Pvt. Plank have already been announced by their families.

Souce:  The Muscatine Journal, December 28, 1948

Transcribed by Linda Ziemann, June 2014