LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel June 14, 1921

FINAL HONORS PAID FUNERAL OF YOUNG SOLDIER ATTENDED BY VAST CONCOURSE FIRST LE MARS MAN TO DIE OVERSEAS Long Procession of Soldiers, Service Men and Knights of Columbus Follow the Body of John Wasmer to Its Final Resting Place

The body of John Wasmer, the first Plymouth County boy to die in France, was buried with military honors in LeMars yesterday after having rested for two and a half years in the soil of France. The body arrived in LeMars last Friday from Omaha, having reached New York a couple weeks previous on a transport that brought home several thousand soldier dead. A large crowd turned out to pay tribute to the memory of this first Plymouth County youth to die for his country in France. The funeral services were held at St. James church, the pastor, Rev. Father O¹Farrell, being assisted by Mgr. Pape, Father Schultes and Rev. Father McDermott, of Atlantic. Rev. McDermott is the chaplain of the Iowa American Legion and delivered the funeral sermon. The procession to the cemetery was headed by the colors, the band, the old comrades of the deceased who belong to old Co. K, the local Legion post which was named for the deceased Wasmer Post, the Knights of Columbus, and a long line of friends and automobiles. The body was accorded full military honors and all local business houses closed during the funeral. John Wasmer was a member of Headquarters Company, 168th Infantry, and left Camp Mills October 7th, 1918, and died in France, January 20th, 1918. John was born April 19, 1899, and was at his death, just three months under twenty years of age. He was reared in Hawarden, Akron and LeMars and had many friends in this section who sincerely mourned the death of this bright young man, but admired the patriotic devotion that made him willing to go overseas and fight for his country and die if need be. The best the nation can do to honor their memories is small acknowledgement of the noble sacrifice thousands of young men made that liberty might live throughout the world.