Sgt. Henry Wellnitz Killed in Action in Normandy
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wellnitz, who live 10 miles southwest of Estherville have received word that their son, Sgt. Henry Wellnitz, 30 has been killed in action. He was believed to have been serving with a tank unit which participated in the invasion of Normandy.
Sgt. Wellnitz has been in the army three years, of which two and one half were spent overseas. He was graduated from the North Superior Consolidated school in 1932. He is survived by his parents, four sisters and three brothers, Martin of Madelia, Minn. and William and Paul, both stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. Sgt. Wellnitz was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Paul Wellnitz, who is the former Edith Pangborn of Spirit Lake.
Source: Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, IA, August 31, 1944
Memorial Will Be Held Sunday for Wellnitz
Service at Immanuel Lutheran Church Here
Memorial services for Sgt. Henry Carl Wellnitz, killed in action on the battlefields of France July 31 will be held Sunday, Nov. 12 in the Immanuel Lutheran church of Estherville.
Sergeant Wellnitz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wellnitz who live 10 miles southwest of Estherville, was born July 9, 1914, in Emmet county. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church and enlisted in the army Feb. 2, 1941. He was stationed at Fort Benning, Fort Knox and Fort Bragg and was sent to Africa in November, 1942. He participated in the invasion of Sicily and went to England in November, 1943. He participated in the invasion of France and was killed in action July 31 of this year.
North Superior Graduate
Wellnitz was graduated from the North Superior high school in 1932. He is survived by his parents, four sisters, Mrs. Jack Myers of Estherville, Mrs. Arthur Fitzpatrick and Miss Dorothy Wellnitz of Chicago and Mrs. George Petershagen of Watertown, S.D. There are also three brothers, Paul, who is stationed with the army at Fort Benning, Ga., Martin of Madelia, Minn., and William.
The memorial service will include an organ prelude with the Wellnitz family entering escorted by a Legion guard of honor; the opening service, a sermon by the Rev. K.A. Horn, the Walther League choir singing, “Beautiful savior” followed by the presentation of the synod’s “In Memoriam” scroll and memorial wreaths.
Star Will Be Added
The family of Sergeant Wellnitz will place the gold star on the congregational honor roll and the congregation will sing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
The service will close with the benediction, the congregation will stand for a --- memory of the dead, taps will be heard and silent prayer.
Source: Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, November 9, 1944
Henry Carl Wellnitz was born July 9, 1914 to Paul Joseph and Margaret “Gertie" Dewall Wellnitz. He died July 31, 1944 and is buried in Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie, Saint Martin, France. He has a cenotaph in Oak Hill Cemetery, Estherville, IA.
Sgt. Wellnitz served in World War II with the U.S. Army 66th Regiment, 2nd Armored Division and was KIA in France and awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
