In Memoriam February 11th

1941 America (Rinehart) Fitzgerald in Clay Co., IL age 80.  The daughter of Philip & Hannah (Voyles) Rinehart was born in Louisville, IL in 1861.  She was married to David Fitzgerald.

1884 Richard Wolfe age 81 in Bible Grove, IL.  He was born 1803 in Kentucky and married Mary Ford in Orange Co., IN in 1829.  They had six children:  Hannah, William, Floyd, Nancy, Leonard and John.  His grandson Lewis married Mary Fitzgerald.  Though I haven’t figured out how, Richard is probably a cousin in his own right. 

1944 Harold Erkman, a Wayne City boy, was killed in action in Italy on February 11.

A few weeks ago the Record reported that young Erkman was missing in action on the above date according to information received here by relatives.  Henry Erkman, father of the boy, called at the Record office Saturday and stated that it ws definitely established both by the War Department and Insurance Company that he was killed on that date.

Pvt. Erkman was the son of Henry Erkman, who is employed in the Kieser Ship Yards at Vancouver, Washington, and his estranged wife, Mrs. Edna Erkman of Evansville.  The Erkman's formerly resided in Wayne City. 

Harold was buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery at Nettuno, Italy until after the war when the cemetery was decommissioned and all the bodies exhumed and shipped to the United States.  His body was returned to Wayne City under military escort in 1948 and he was reburied in Thomason Cemetery.

2001 Wilburn Ray Erkmann, 74 of McLeansboro died 3:04 a.m. Feb. 11, 2001, at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro. 

He was a retired oil field worker.

Mr. Erkmann was born March 27, 1926, in Hamilton County to John and Anna (Heddy) Erkmann.  He married Pearl F. Riley June 1, 1952; she died in 1990.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro.  Paster Rachel Stockle will officiate.  Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in McLeansboro.  Graveside military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 106.

He is survived by two sons, Dennis Erkmann and wife Cynthia of Bloomington; and James Erkmann and wife Laura of McLeansboro; a daughter Paula Smith and husband Benny of Millstadt; five siblings, John Erkmann of Nixa, Mo., Opal Hall of Wayne City, Frieda Gunter of McLeansboro, Jesse Musgrave of Pekin and his twin sister Faye Morris of Dahlgren; a grandchild Megan Erkmann; and a stepgrandchild, Amylynn Smith.

Mr. Erkmann was a member of the First United Methodist Church in McLeansboro.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, William Erkmann and a sister, Edith Robertson.