MEMORIAL SERVICE AT FENTON FOR SGT. ARTHUR RUHNKE
Memorial services were held Sunday, Nov. 26, in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fenton for Sgt. Arthur Ruhnke. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ruhnke. He was born June 19, 1917 in Kossuth county. He was baptized in Fenton July 22, 1917 by Rev. Max Friedrich. On May 15, 1932 he renewed his baptismal vows in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fenton. He entered the service of his country on Nov. 16, 1942. He received his basis training at Camp Wolters, Texas. He was then transferred to Fort Geo. G. Meade, Maryland, where he remained until July 1944 when he was sent to England. He saw action in France where he was killed on September 1. His departure is deeply mourned by his parents and two brothers, also five sisters, his aged grandfather. A touching funeral sermon was preached by Rev. A. F. Otto. It is with deep regret that we record this death of one of the boys of our neighboring town.
Source: Unknown newspaper with photo submitted by Jerry Yocum, Historian, Camp Algona POW Museum, Algona, IA
80 Kossuth Men Officially Listed As Casualties In War
FIRST RELEASE OF STATE HISTORICAL DEATH SUMMARIES
Eighty men from Kossuth county lost their lives while in the service of their country in World War II.
KOSSUTH'S WAR DEAD.
Ruhnke, Arthur, Sgt.
Killed in action in France Aug. 27, 1944.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. John Ruhnke, Rt. 2, Whittemore, Ia.
Source: The Algona Upper DesMoines, Tuesday, January 22, 1946 – page 7.
Arthur John Herman Ruhnke was born June 19, 1917 to John and Amanda Dau Ruhnke. He died Aug. 27, 1944 and is buried in Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France and has a cenotaph in Saint Pauls Lutheran Cemetery, Whittemore, IA.
Sgt. Ruhnke served in World War II with the U.S. Army 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division and was KIA in France and awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
