S-Sgt Alfred Limberg

S-Sgt. Alfred Limberg was born on Oct. 17, 1917, in Kossuth County, near Buffalo Center, Iowa, to Abel and Minnie Kuper Limberg. Here, on his parents farm, he grew to manhood. Alfred was inducted into the army on March 24, 1941, and was assigned to Troop C, 113th Cavalry, Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized. He was stationed in camps throughout the south for nearly three years before leaving for England in January of 1944. His troop was part of the invasion forces of Normandy and took part in the Allied drive through France. On Oct. 12, 1944, he died in the battle for Aachen in Germany. On December 6, 1944, private services were held with interment in the family lot in Olena Mound Cemetery in Buffalo Center, Iowa.

~photo & text from the Buffalo Center Centennial, 1892-1992, pg 140 & 141
~contributed by Ken Moen

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Woden - Mr. and Mrs. Abel Limberg were notified Saturday that their son Sgt. Alfred Limberg, was killed in action over Germany Oct 12. He had been in combat duty overseas since January, 1944. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Limberg, 3 brothers: Menno of Buffalo Center, Emil of Forest city and Bernard at home and sister, Mamie, also at home.

~Mason City Globe-Gazette, November 1, 1944
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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Memorial services for Sgt. Alfred Limberg were held Thursday afternoon, Nov. 9th, at the parental Abel Limberg home at Woden, followed with services at the local Reformed church with the Rev. H.F. Senne and Rev. H. Kruse conducting the services, assisted by members of Winnebago Post No. 21 of the American Legion.

Sgt. Alfred Limberg, son of Abel Limberg and his wife Minnie, nee Kuper, was born on the 17th of October, 1917, near Buffalo Center. Here he spent his boyhood and grew into young manhood, until he entered the army on the 24th day of March, 1941. At Christmastime of last year he spent his last furlough home with his parents. In January of this year he was sent across to England and later joined with the invasion forces of Normandy and took part in the Allied drive through France. On the 12th of October, 1944, he died in the battle for Aachen on German soil.

The deceased attained the age of 26 years, 11 months and 25 days. His untimely death is deeply mourned by his parents, and three brothers and a sister, and many other relatives and friends.

"Go to the grave at noon from labor cease;
Rest on thy sheaves, thy harvest work is done.
Come from the heat of battle, and in peace,
Soldier, go home; with thee the fight is done."
-Montgomery

~Buffalo Center Tribune, November 22, 1944
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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1st Lieutenant Willis F. Limberg

Willis F. Limberg, son of Joseph and Flora Harms Limberg, lost his life when the army bomber he was piloting crashed near Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, on Monday, July 17, 1944.

Willis was born May 15, 1917 in Buffalo Center and here he received both his early secular and religious training. After graduating from high school in 1935, he went on to graduate from Central College in Pella and taught Mathematics and coached for two years in Beech, Iowa before entering the Air Corps in Fort Des Moines, Iowa on August 19, 1941. Willlis quickly moved up the ranks, receiving his wings at Kelly Field, Texas, in less than a year; and a year later was promoted to First Lieutenant on July 25, 1943.

Willis was a member of the 59th Ferrying Command with headquarters in Memphis, TN. During his years with the Air Corps he served in Europe, N. Africa, Asiatic, Southwest pacific and North and South America.

~photo (on the left) and text from the Buffalo Center Centennial, 1892-1992, pg 140
~contributed by Ken Moen

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Word of the fatality of Lt. Willis F. Limberg, who was killed in a crash of his army bomber near Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Monday noon, July 17th, reached the Joe Limberg family here, Tuesday evening, July 18th.

The entire community was also deeply shocked at this report. This was the fourth fatality of men in service in World War II from this locality. The body was accompanied to Buffalo Center by a military escort, Lt. Allen Voorsanger, a roommate and close friend of the deceased.

Willis F. Limberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Limberg, was born on the fifteenth of May, 1917, at Buffalo Center, Iowa. Here he spent his boyhood days and attended the Buffalo Center school graduating with the Class of 1935. In the fall of 1935 he entered as a student at Central College, Pella, Iowa, graduating from that institution in 1939. Upon graduation he taught at Beech, Iowa, for two years.

On the 19th of August, 1941, he entered the service of his country, joining the Air Corps. He received his wings on July 25, 1942, and a year later, July 25, 1943, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. Lt. Limberg was a member of the 59th Ferrying Command with headquarters at memphis, Tennessee. For the past two years he had been ferrying planes to different foreign countries. He was wearing Theatre Ribbons for Europe, North Africa, Asiatic, Southwest Pacific and North and South America. Lt. Limberg, with the rest of the crew, had just started on a new mission, when the accident occurred.

He was greatly esteemed and loved by is many friends in this community, as by those who made his acquaintance in other places - to which messages of sympathy to his bereaved family attest. He received his religious training in a devout home and in the Reformed church Sunday School, catechetical instruction, young peoples' society, and church services where he gained a firm Faith in his Lord - that he could write his aged grandmother not long ago, "I have faith in my Lord. He watches over me and I trust Him completely."

Willis F. Limberg met his death on July 17, 1944, when the bomber he was flying, crashed near Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. Thus at the age of 27 years, 2 months and 2 days, his soul took flight into the presence of his God and Savior, whom he trusted so completely. He is survived by his parents and sister, Lydia, and also his aged grandmother, Mrs. Limberg, as well as a host of near and distant relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon, July 24th, at 1 o'clock, followed with services at the Reformed church with the Rev. H.F. Seene and Rev. Wm. R. Everts in charge, assisted by Rev. Herman Rosenberg of George, Iowa; Rev. Wm. Rosenberg of Everly, Iowa; Rev. Daniel Reeverts of Monrose, South Dakota; and Rev. Cornelius Archer of Reynenn. Interment was made in Graceland cemetery.

Pallbearers were Ralph Smith, Winfield Jones, William Steen, Jack Steinberg, Nanne Frerichs and Raymond Hippen. Honorary pallbearers from post No. 21 of the American Legion of Buffalo Center were O.L. Price, C.A. Rocker, Carl Tutton, J.H. Sowers, S.C. Claassen and C.L. Peterson. Color bearers and guards were Levi Durby, Martin Behrends, Al Bohl and Chris Friis. Firing squad: Ray Hill, John Ennen, Otto Schmidt, Evert Letcher, Jerome Johnson, Wilbur Boeckholt, Fred Weinberger and Harm Shortenhaus. Willis Bechtel sounded taps, with Vernord Boekelman giving the echo.

Out of town relatives and friends here to attend the services were Rev. and Mrs. Wm. R. Everts of Waterloo, Rev. D. Reveerts of Monroe, So. Dakota; Rev. H. Rosenberg of Everly, Iowa; Rev. C. Reynen of Archer, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. W. Yahnke of Elmore, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs E. Yahnke and Mrs. H. Henke of Blue Earth, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs Fred Westendorf and daughter of Lake Mills, Mr. and Mrs F. Behrends and Wm. and Lester Behrends of Lamberton, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs J. Risius and family of Brownsdale, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs H. Cobie, Mr. J. Cobie, Mr. A. Krull, Mrs. L. Beyer and daughter of Ackley, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs M. Isebrand and Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Tash of Webster City, Mr. and Mrs Joel Heaberlin, and Mr. and Mrs Jim Heaberlin of Pleasantville, Iowa; Mrs. Meyer of Beech, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs J. DeWall and daughter of St. James, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs C. Ebens and Mrs. H. Miller of Monroe Center, Illinois; Mr. and Mrs R. Ebens of Lindewood, Illinois; Mrs. J. Downey of Algona, Iowa; Mrs. C. Lund and Gertrude Limberg of Mason City, Iowa; Mrs. H. Erickson and Miss Ordale Durby of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. J. Eastvold of Thompson, Iowa; Mrs. Juanita Underwood, Mrs. Harriett Simmons, Miss Valera Wessels, and Mr. and Mrs Wm. Hippen of Des Moines; Lt. Allen Voorsanger of Memphis, Tennessee; and Mr. and Mrs George Silber and daughter of Peoria, Illinois.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, July 27, 1944 (photo of Willis Limberg, on the right, accompanied this article)
~contributed by S. Ferrall

 

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