James Richard Kohlbecker (1928 - 2016)

Born 11 Sep 1928 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Died 20 Nov 2016 at age 88 in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Florida, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Eugene Kohlbecker [send private message]

Biography

James Richard Kohlbecker ^[1]

was born to parents Edmund Martin Kohlbecker and Virginia L Pletz on Tuesday, September 11, 1928, in Springfield,, Illinois.

Jim was in the U.S. Army, serving among other duties as a Sergeant of the Guard at the Nuremberg trials.

He was wounded in South Korea and returned to duty after healing. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal with cluster and the Bronze Star for his meritorious service with the 27th Infantry regiment in Korea from May, 1951, to January, 1952.

Jim married Jeanette "Anne" Aldridge about 1952 in Springfield, Illinois. They grew estranged in the late 1950s, separated, but were never divorced. Jim and Anne had no children.

Jim died on Sunday, November 20, 2016, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Timeline

1928 September 11 ^[2]Birth in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois.

1930 April 5 ^[3]Federal Census. Residence: 924 South 11th Street, Springfield (Capital Township), Sangamon, Illinois, United States.

1931 ^[4]City Directory. Residence: 705 South 13th, Springfield, Illinois. Two boys, one girl.

1932 ^[5]City Directory. Residence: 705 South 13th, Springfield, Illinois. Two boys, one girl.

1933 ^[6]City Directory. Residence: 705 South 13th, Springfield, Illinois. Two boys, one girl.

1934 ^[7][8]City Directory. Residence: 705 South 13th, Springfield, Illinois. Two boys, one girl.

1937 ^[9]City Directory. Residence: 705 South 13th, Springfield, Illinois. Two boys, one girl.

1938 June 18 ^[10]Newspaper article. Jim and his brother Gene spent this Saturday with the Wanderbird group of the Springfield Nature League competing in a flower and plant identification contest, playing tennis, and horseback riding.

1945 October ^[11]Newspaper article. Service as an enlisted man through August 1948. First Infantry division in Europe. Sergeant of the Guard at the Nuremberg trials.

1950 November ^[12]Newspaper article. Through April, 1951, fought as a member of the Eighth Army Ranger Co., attached to the 25th division in Korea.

1951 June ^[13]Newspaper article. Commissioned as second lieutenant and assigned as a communications officer with the 27th Infantry Regiment in Korea.

1951 July 13 Military. Wounded in South Korea.

1951 September 5 Military. Returned to duty from Houston, Texas, with the 27th Infantry regiment in South Korea.

1952 January ^[14]Newspaper article. Residence: 810 South 14th Street, Springfield, Illinois.

1952 March 25 ^[15]Newspaper article. Residence: 814 South 14th Street, Springfield, Illinois.

1954 June – September ^[16]Newpaper article. Gary Air Force Base, San Marcos, Texas. Student pilot at the army aviation school.

1954 December 2 ^[17]Newspaper article. Residence: Alexandria, Virginia. Captain James R. Kohlbecker named acting assistant adjutant general for the military district of Washington, D.C.

1963 February 4Death of mother Virginia Barbara Pletz at St John's Hospital, Springfield, Illinois.

1977 September 23 Death of father Edmund Martin Kohlbecker at Passavant Hospital, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois.

1977 September 24 ^[18]Newspaper article. Residence: West Palm Beach, Florida.

2016 November 20 Death in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida.

Sources

1. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois; Roll: 559; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0042; Image: 578.0; FHL microfilm: 2340294
2. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois; Roll: 559; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0042; Image: 578.0; FHL microfilm: 2340294
3. ↑ Web link
4. ↑ 1931 Springfield City Directory, page 447, Web link
5. ↑ 1932 Springfield City Directory, page 501, Web link
6. ↑ 1933 Springfield City Directory, page 501,Web link
7. ↑ 1934 Springfield City Directory, page 535, Web link
8. ↑ 1934 Springfield City Directory, page 512, Web link
9. ↑ 1937 Springfield City Directory, page 1023, Web link
10. ↑ 20 Jun 1938, page 3, "Wanderbird Group Has All Day Outing Near New Berlin" Web link
11. ↑ 2 Dec 1945, page 7, "Named to Army Post", Web link
12. ↑ 2 Dec 1945, page 7, "Named to Army Post", Web link
13. ↑ 2 Dec 1945, page 7, "Named to Army Post", Web link
14. ↑ 11 Jan 1952, page 32, "Close Call — Shell Hits Near But Proves To Be dud."Web link
15. ↑ 25 Mar 1952, page 24, "Lt J R Kohlbecker Wins Bronze Star", Web link
16. ↑ 2 Dec 1945, page 7, "Named to Army Post", Web link
17. ↑ 2 Dec 1945, page 7, "Named to Army Post", Web link
18. ↑ 24 Sep 1977, page 8, "Edmund Kohlbecker", Web link

. "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch entry for James Richard Kohlbecker; contributed by various users.

"Fold3," database, James R Kohlbecker.

"Find a Grave", website, Find A Grave: Memorial #2556296

"Find a Grave", website, Find A Grave: Memorial #56810673

Bibliography

• U.S. City Directories, 1822–1995. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Provo, UT, USA.

• Obituary for James R. Kohlbecker, Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Florida; December 16–19, 2016. Web link

• Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois.

• State Journal-Register", Springfield, Illinois.