Robert Ensminger, Staff Sgt, U.S. Army, was attached to the 696 Field Artillery as a Cook in France when he was shot and killed instantly on November 11, 1944. His wife, Beulah Noel Ensminger from Kennard, was notified of her husband’s death on 21 December 1944 by her neighbor Lilly Plugge who had a telephone. S/Sgt Ensminger had been home on leave with his wife Beulah and daughter Sharon in May, 1944. He didn’t want to return to base without Beulah and Sharon, so Mr. Noel loaned them the money to go to Fort Jackson, South Carolina before he was sent overseas. He was buried in Ashland Cemetery, near his parents. Survivors are Beulah Ladd of Fremont, NE, and Sharon and Fred Schafer of Westminister, Colorado, grandchildren Cindy, Sherry, Bob and Larry and their families.
Enterprise 16 Dec 1943
Pfc. And Mrs. Robert Ensminger and baby returned to Columbia, South Carolina, Saturday, after spending some time with Ms. Ensminger’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Noel, of Kennard, Nebraska. They also visited Mr. Ensminger’s parents at Brunswick, Nebraska.
Enterprise 21 Dec 1944
Sgt. Robert Ensminger Killed In Action
Mrs. Robert Ensminger of Kennard received a telegram on Tuesday morning from the government stating that her husband, Sgt. Robert Ensminger, had been killed in action on November 11th, somewhere in France. No further details were given.
Mrs. Ensminger was formerly Beulah Noel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Noel, of Kennard. She and her daughter, Sharon, have been making their home with her parents during the time the husband and father was in the service.
Pilot Tribune 21 Dec 1944
Pvt. Ensminger Is Dead Overseas
Pvt. Robert Ensminger, former Washington countian, died in overseas combat duty, relatives learned Tuesday morning. He had been wounded about a month ago.
Survivors include his wife, who lives in Kennard with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Noel.
19 Aug, 1948 - The Enterprise - Sgt. Robert Earl Ensminger - WWII
LAST RITES HELD AT KENNARD FOR SGT. ENSMINGER
Services were held at 3 p.m. Thursday, August 12th at Marcy Chapel in Ashland, Nebr. for Sgt. Robert Earl Ensminger of Oakdale, Nebr.
Sgt. Ensminger was born August 8th, 1919, and was killed November 11, 1944 at Vigny, France.
He was married to Beula Noel of Kennard, and they had one daughter, Sharon Kaye. Interment was made in the Ashland Cemetery. Committal Service was in charge of American Legion Post No. 129. those attending the services from here were Mrs. Renard Ladd and daughter, Sharon Kaye Ensminger of Blair, and Mr. H. J. Noel.
~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~
