Reports Ivan Weckman Killed In Action
Two more names are added to the “In Memoriam” department of the Adams County Honor Roll of Service Men this week, when word came of the death of Lawrence Ivan Weckman and Edgar Coons. Weckman was killed in action and Coons died from disease.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Brandon, grandparents of Ivan Weckman received the message from the War Department Tuesday morning. No details of his death were given but it is presumed by relatives here that Ivan was killed in taking part in the recent invasion of France. Ivan was born December 29, 1923. He enlisted in the seabees in November, 1942.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, June 15, 1944, Page 1
Ivan Weckman Buried
At Brookwood, England
Mrs. Agnes Brandon has received a letter from the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery of the United States Navy, which read as follows:
Dear Mr. Brandon:
You have been notified by the Bureau of Navy Personnel, Navy Department, of the death of your grandson, Lawrence Ivan Weckman, Gunner’s Mate, first class, U. S. Naval Reserve, on June 8, 1944, in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. According to information which has come to this Bureau, burial has been made in the American Cemetery, Brookwood, England.
Because of war conditions and for the duration of the war, the policy of the Navy Department (and of the War Department as well) necessarily has been to make the interment in the locality where death occurs.
Following cessation of hostilities, and on request of the next of kin, arrangements will be made by this bureau, if possible, for return to the United States of the remains of navy personnel interred in cemeteries beyond the continental United States. You may record your wishes now by letter to this Bureau, or, if you prefer, await the Bureau’s further inquiry at such future time as it may be possible to determine a probable date.
Sincerely Yours,
Ross T. McIntire,
Vice Admiral (MC)
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, August 10, 1944, Page 1
Purple Heart Award
For Ivan Weckmn
Mrs. Roy Brandon has this week received the Purple Heart Award which was awarded to her grandson, Lawrence Ivan Weckman, CM1;c of the Navy. Ivan died June 6th, 1944 during the action on the Normandy invasion. The certificate and medal arrived under separate cover, and the Meal bore the inscription, as do all Purple Heart Awards, “For Military Merit”, and below the inscription was engraved his full name and rank.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, March 01, 1945, Page 1
Return Soldier Dead From Battle Fields
Relatives here have received word that the body of Lawrence Ivan Weckman, carpenter’s mate first class has arrived in New York. The body arrived Saturday, June 26, aboard the transport Lawrence Victory. Weckman was killed on Normandy Beach on D-Day and was buried in the Brookwood Cemetery in England. His body will be returned to Corning for final burial, although definite arrangements have not yet been made.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, July 01, 1948, Page 1
Funeral Sunday
The body of Carpenters Mate 1st Class Lawrence I. Weckman arrived in Corning Monday and funeral services will be held Sunday, Sept. 5, at 2:30 p. m. from the Roland Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. D. E. Steinfort. Weckman, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Brandon of Corning, was killed in action in France in June, 1944. He was born December 29, 1923. He enlisted in the Seabees in November, 1942.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, September 02, 1948, Page 1
Obituaries
LAWRENCE IVAN WECKMAN
Lawrence Ivan Weckman, Carpenters Mate 1/c U. S. N. R, was killed in action on D. Day, June 6, 1944 in the Normandy Invasion, as a member of an (sic) L. S. T. boat crew. He has been awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and several other citations.
Ivan, as he was known by all his friends, was born December 29, 1923 in Corning, Iowa, to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence P. Weckman. Ivan’s mother passed away when he was 8 years old, leaving an infant son, who was taken into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Brown; three girls, with Ivan, were cared for in the home of their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Brandon.
Ivan attended the Corning School until his senior year, when he made his home with his uncle and family at Hay Springs, Nebraska. He graduated there in 1941.
He enlisted in the Sea Bees in Omaha, Nebraska, in November 1942 and was called to active duty February 11, 1943. In September 1943 he was transferred to the Regular Navy. He landed in England February 3, 1944. He had made the rating of Carpenters Mate 1/c U. S. N. R.
At the time of his death, Ivan was aged 20 years, 5 months and 8 days.
He leaves to mourn his loss his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Brandon; his father, Lawrence P. Weckman and wife of Chicago, Ill.; three sisters, Mrs. Norma Wickwire of Des Moines; Mrs. Mary Loudon of Creston; Mrs. Kathryn Kauffman of San Francisco; one brother, Harold Lee Brown of Des Moines; one half-brother, Jack Weckman of Chicago; and many other relatives and friends.
You cannot say, you must not say
That he is dead. He is just away!
With a cheery smile,
And a wave of the hand
He has wandered into an unknown land
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be, since he lingers there;
So think of him faring on, as dear
In the love of There as the love of Here.
Think of him still as the same and say
He is not dead, he is just away!
Services were held Sunday, September 5, 1948, at 2:30 in the Boyd Roland Co. Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. D. E. Steinfort. Interment was made in Oak Hill Cemetery. Pall bearers were Ray Keefe, Ray Reed, Wendell Reed, Donald Hogan, Dean McGaffin and Cleland Paul. Music at the service was by John Riegel, accompanied by Mrs. Joe Cook.
Among those from a distance attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Weckman and Jack from Chicago; Mrs. Kathryn Kauffman, San Francisco, Calif.; Mrs. Newton Foster, Richland, Wash.; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Brown and Harold, Mr. and Ms. Edward Scrowther, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wickwire, Mr. and Mrs. William Loudon, and Leigh Edward Brown, all of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Loudon, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Weckman, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. George Weckman, Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. Bernard Weckman and Patricia, Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Owen, Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Shinkle, Mrs. Paul Loudon and Jacks, all of Creston; Mr. and Mrs. Leigh Brown and Deloris of Winterset: Clarence Brown, Prescott.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, September 09, 1948, Page 12
