Gail Olinger Hakes (1917 - 1963)

Born 4 Jul 1917 in Indian Creek Township, Story County, Iowa USA

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Muriel (Palmer) Hakes — married 4 Jul 1940 (to 14 Nov 1963) in Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa USA

Died 14 Nov 1963 at age 46 in Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa USA

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Biography

Gail Olinger Hakes was born in 1917 to Vance Alphonso Hakes and Kathryn Olinger. He was raised in Iowa and Minnesota as a farm boy in the Story County area of Iowa, the Blue Earth County area and then moving with his parents and younger siblings to Kossuth County, Iowa. Gail married Margaret Muriel Palmer in Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa. Their witnesses were Katherine Palmer, Margaret's sister, and D. C. Davidson, a friend of Gail. The minister performing the ceremony was Rev. C. N. Pfeiffer. Gail took his bride to the family farm where they lived until 1943 when the farm was foreclosed. They moved into Algona with his mother and then two children. Gail signed up for the military draft that fall then enlisted after his third child was born, knowing the time was coming to be called to serve. Daughter number two was not named and when the time came to report for duty in December, he told Margret to name her what she wanted because he probably wouldn't be coming back anyway. He just didn't want a Gail, Jr. So, she named her Gayle. He did come back, and they ended up having five more children. Two years, one month, and 22 days of active duty were served with nine months and 25 days of foreign field service being held in France, Rhineland of Central Europe, and the Philippines. He went overseas on 27 February 1945 and was listed as returned to the United Stares on 21 December 1945. Gail earned a Good Conduct Medal. He was listed as a baker. The records indicated that he had blue eyes, brown hair and was 72 inches tall at the time of his enlistment. An interesting note often talked about when we were growing up was that at one time while in France he happened to meet up with Roger, Mom's brother. From stories told, they had a good time together while they could. Gail continued farming in the Union Township area of Cerro Gordo County south of Clear Lake until the fall of 1958 when he had his first heart attack. He gave up farming and purchased a tire business. He passed away in 1963 from the results of heart disease having suffered a myocardial infarction the morning of his death.

Sources

• Iowa Birth Records 1800-1999: FHL Film Number 1404578; Recorded in Story County Records, Book 4, Page 249
• Iowa Marriage Records 1880-1940: Certificate Number 7590-504
• U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946: Enlistment Date: 13 Nov 1943; Enlistment Place: Camp Dodge Herrold, Iowa; Service Number: 37681649
• U.S. World War II Army Discharge Records: Discharge Rank: Tec 4; Branch of Service: 867th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company, US Army; Records on file at Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa
• Iowa Death Records 1920-1940: Certificate Number 63-24330
• Find-A-Grave Memorial ID: 99880553, Burial in the Clear Lake Municipal Cemetery, Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa USA