World War I
Fred J. Schaefer was born Feb. 27, 1892, in Green Valley, IL, one of about 10 children born to J. J. and Mary Schaefer. Some information I found about Fred was confusing and possibly questionable.
In the 1910 census, he is living with the Baltz Gorman family as a hired man in Cincinnati, IL, which makes sense – he was 18 years old and had probably just left home to make his own way in the world.
According to his obituary, Fred and the rest of his family moved to Nebraska and he had lived in Pierce County since 1917, but his WWI registration card, signed in 1917, still gives his address as Green Valley, IL.
Fred served in the U. S. Army from July 22, 1918, to March 5, 1919. He was a member of Company I, 2nd Infantry, 19th Division. According to Wikipedia, when the war broke out, the 2nd Infantry Regiment was on security duty in the Hawaiian Islands guarding interned German ships and sailors, as well as various U.S. installation. In July 1918, when Fred joined the unit, it had returned to the United States and was assigned to the 19th Division at Camp Dodge, IA. The war ended just as the regiment was about to deploy to France.
In the 1920 census, Fred is living in Allen Precinct, southeast of Osmond, with the Adam Ziemer family. What’s confusing is that he is listed as single, but is also listed as Ziemer’s son-inlaw. In doing a little research on the Ziemers, I found that they came from the same area of Illinois as Fred. They must have all traveled to Nebraska together, but I could find no evidence that the Ziemers had a daughter that Fred might have married.
In 1925, Fred married Hazel Dredge, and the couple had six children: four sons and two daughters. They farmed in the Foster area for most of their married lives.
Fred suffered a severe stroke about two weeks before his death, and was first hospitalized in Norfolk, then later transferred to the veterans’ hospital at Grand Island, where he passed away July 19, 1962.
Rev. Robert Call conducted the last rites. Mary Leamy at the organ, accompanied a mixed octet as they sang “Rock OfAges,” “Beautiful Isle” and “Abide With Me.” Members of Tomek-Otto Post 72 of the American Legion conducted military rites.
A firing squad comprised of Paul Krause, Bill Holmes, Mel Warneke, Charles Price and Don Zimmer fired three volleys, directed by Cliff Pentico, sergeant-at-arms. Ben Haigh, post bugler, sounded Taps and E. D. Beech and Edward German folded the flag and presented it to Mrs. Schaefer.
Other Legionnaires present were Ellwood Voecks, Harley Bovee and Delbert Otto.
Fred is buried in the Osmond city cemetery, at the top of the hill and halfway across the row to the right.
