Obituary Record

Chris Claus (Pvt Co A) Rosacker
Died on 9/3/1918
Buried in Fort Calhoun Cemetery

#1 Tribune 10 Oct 1918

Henry Rosacker, a watchman now at Norfolk, is visiting here. His son Claus, supposed to have been killed in France, was born in this neighborhood. His mother is a daughter of Claus Schwager, now of Omaha. His father was for years clerk for Henry Rix, janitor of our public schools as well as farmer near by. Claus grew to manhood among us, a sturdy good farm boy. Banker Henry Rix, as well as this writer, thought much of him and his family have our sympathy.

#2-Published in the Pilot July 27, 1921

The body of Chris C. Rosacker arrived at Fort Calhoun from France last Friday and is to be buried there next Sunday afternoon. A full military funeral is to be held at 2:30 in the park if weather is favorable. The Blair band will go down to take part. Chris was a private in Co. A. of the 341st Machine Gun Battalion. His soldier number was 2,180,738 and he was buried in grave 232 in cemetery 14. He was killed September 3rd, 1918, in Argonne Forest by the explosion of a shell while out on picket duty ahead of the lines. He was with a comrade by the name of O’Brien. The shell fell between them and killed both instantly. He entered the service April 26th from Wayne County but was born Feb. 9th, 1889, and grew to manhood in Fort Calhoun. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rosacker, moved to Norfolk in 1916. They were down Friday to be present when the body came. He is survived by his parents, five sisters and three brothers. He was the only one of the large family in the service. Mr. and Mrs. Rosacker have a lot in Fort Calhoun Cemetery where three children are bured and so the body was sent there for burial.

#3-Tribune 28 July 1921

Henry Rosacker came Friday and his son’s body arrived from France Saturday. The inscription on the box reads: “Chris C. Rosacker, private, Company A. 341 M.G.B.N. from Chief A.G.R.S. in Europe.” Of the 72 men detailed from Fort Des Moines to act as escort to the bodies, Private Johnson off Troop B. 14th Cavalry was assigned to this case. He was in full uniform and carried a heavy magazine rifle. He was a fine young man. Lieutenant Frank took him to the fort, and after an hour with us we took him to the park, and Rev. (or Lieut.) Frank had him for a 6 o’clock dinner before the train left for Omaha. Bennington Legion telephoned to W. Sievers last week, offering their services but Blair had been asked for the occasion. Friday night, the World War soldiers held a meeting here and planned to do anything they may be asked to do.

Our pastor, Rev. C. Frank, who is also a lieutenant, will lead our local military and act as chaplain as well.

The funeral is to be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 31, either from the City Hall or park, according to the weather. The father and mother will remain here the week through as guests of John Wreidt and family. Granddad Woods.

#4-Tribune 4 Aug 1921

Soldier Of World War Is Buried At Calhoun Sunday

World Soldier Claus Rosacker was born in Ft. Calhoun, Nebr., township, where his father was a farmer, February 9, 1889, so that he received most of his school days here and went to Wayne county with his parents in 1916, and was killed on the picket line on September 3, 1918, and was buried near three of his younger brothers and sisters in the family lot in Ft. Calhoun cemetery. Besides his parents he leaves eight brothers and sisters and many friends; this writer, who has known him all his life, among them.

Sunday, July 31, 1921, the body was taken from the undertaking rooms to the ark at near 2 p.m. with two white horses attached to the lorry. The pall bearers were four neighborhood war soldiers and two members of the navy; T. F. Johnson, who served 21 full months, 14 of them on the sea, now lives at DeSoto; the Blair band, with VanCleve of Tekamah as leader; the American Legion of Blair sent a firing squad of eight members under command of Major O’Hanlon, made a fine appearance. Lieut. Frank of Ft. Calhoun had charge of our own military, and Wm. Sievers in charge of local civil affairs, Roy Chase of Coffman, John Rathjen and Ernest Schmidt, traffic managers. After a call by the band there was a song by fifteen Campfire girls, under leadership of organist, Miss Grace Neale, a military prayer by Rev. Lieut. Frank, pastor of the Presbyterian church, hymn again by the glee club and a fine, instructive address by Postmaster J. L. Finch, who lost a son in Gen. Bundy’s command over in France, another song by the glee club followed by the march to the cemetery with the band and others in military order.

We decided the crowd of perhaps 1,000 people was too dense for us so we returned to copy our notes. There were military exercises, of course, at the cemetery.

Among others besides the family present from Wayne country we saw the boy’s uncle and wife, John Schwager, of the Omaha police force, and his cousin, Charles Schwager, president of an Omaha insurance company; and Charles Young and wife of Omaha, W. Sierk and Henry Megeilsen of Florence, Mrs. Peter Jensen and Miss Ziegler of Blair. In the absence of Mr. Hedelund of Blair, our grandson, Earl Fleege, of Tekamah, a chief bugler in the recent war, and a member of the Blair band, was the bugler at the grave.

The weather was pretty near all we could ask and the exercises were carefully done in proper order. We read in the Scripture that God created the heavens and the earth; heaven first, the home of the soul, but we cannot find that God ever created war. This came from the wicked hearts of man. W. H. Woods

#5 Printed in the October 3, 1918 Fort Calhoun Chronicle

Henry Rosaker is here from Norfolk visiting friends. He received word last week that his son Claus, who grew to manhood in this vicinity, had been killed in France.

Note: Chris Claus Rosacker, born 9 Feb 1889 in Ft. Calhoun; died 3 Sept 1918 in France. Buried in Fort Calhoun Cemetery Plot: Section D, Block 38, Grave 3; Find a Grave # 18176431.

~~~ Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Printed in the Tribune on 8/4/1921


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