William Louis Wecke (1915 - 2014)

Born 10 May 1915 in Covington, Illinois, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Alberta Ann (Maschhoff) Wecke — married 11 Jul 1970 in Hoyleton, Illinois, USA

Died 26 Aug 2014 at age 99 in Hoyleton, Illinois, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Eric Bundy [send private message]

Biography

William was born in 1915. He was the son of Herman Wecke and Mary Peper. He passed away in 2014.

William L. Wecke, 99 of Hoyleton passed away at 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at Friendship Manor Health Center in Nashville. He was born on May 10, 1915 in Covington, the son of Herman and Mary Peper Wecke. He married Alberta Maschhoff Brink on July 11, 1970 in Hoyleton and she passed away on April 9, 2014. Also preceding him in death were 3 sisters; Thelma Kleiboeker ,Selma Wernecke and Lorena Koelling along with a step grandson Todd Brink and a great nephew Klay Bundy. Left to mourn his passing are 2 step sons; Howard (Patty) Brink and Ralph (Connie) Brink both of Hoyleton. 5 step grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren. 2 nephews; Larvin (Debbie) Kleiboeker and Eldor Wernecke both of Hoyleton. 2 nieces; Arletta (Larry) Bundy of Centralia and Maryetta (Leon) Kuhl of New Minden. Mr. Wecke served in the European Theatre of the United States Army during World War II where he received the purple heart and bronze star. He was a long time member of the Zion United Church of Christ in Hoyleton where he formerly served as a trustee and secretary of the Brotherhood. He served as trustee and auditor of Hoyleton Township for 36 years. He was a member of the Hoyleton American Legion Post #887. He liked to spend time outside and working in his garden.

William was an 11B Infantryman who served with the 1-6 Infantry Battalion, 1st Armored Division during WWII. He went to basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, then went to Camp Lee, Virginia (Now known as Fort Lee) before shipping out to Europe. He didn't speak very often about the time that he served in the U.S. Army. Around 2006, he revealed that he fought with 1-6 IN in North Africa against Rommel's army. After Rommel's defeat, the 1-6 IN was sent into Italy and they fought their way north to the vicinity of Bressanone, Italy. While fighting in Italy, they fought against the French Foreign Legion that was hired by the Italians. Bill was shot and injured while in Italy around 1943 and was sent back to the US for recovery. While he was recovering, he served as an Infantry instructor at Fort Lee, VA., and returned home in1944.

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Note: In the Wecke children photo, standing L to R is: Lorena Wecke Koelling, William Wecke. Sitting L to R is: Selma Wecke Wernecke, Thelma Wecke Kleiboeker.

Note: In the returning home photo's, William is with Henry, Thelma, and Arletta Kleiboeker at the farm that He and Thelma grew up on and that Henry and Thelma own.

Sources

1. ↑ Personal recollection of events witnessed by Eric Bundy as remembered 11 Mar 2018.

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJZS-HX1 : accessed 12 March 2018), William Wecke in household of Herman Wecke, Irvington, Washington, Illinois, United States; citing ED 234, sheet 7A, line 45, family 135, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 412; FHL microfilm 1,820,412.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3M1-9JK : accessed 12 March 2018), William Wecke in household of Henry F Peper, Irvington, Washington, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 15, sheet 2A, line 33, family 30, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 566; FHL microfilm 2,340,301.
• United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJWV-DT9B : 23 May 2014), William L Wecke, Residence, Hoyleton, Illinois, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
• "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ65-74RF : 16 May 2014), William L Wecke, Residence, Hoyleton, Illinois, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVP3-S1JS : 13 December 2015), William Louis Wecke, 2014; Burial, Hoyleton, Washington, Illinois, United States of America, Zion Cemetery; citing record ID 135455484, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
• https://www.styningerfuneralhomes.com/notices/William-Wecke