Werner Gus Golter
World War II
Werner Gus Golter’s is another sad story, like Stanley Broberg’s, of a young man who made it through almost four years of war, only to die not long after returning home, also in a motor vehicle accident.
Werner — incorrectly listed as Warner is several places, including on his headstone – was the son of Gus and Elise Golter. He was born in Schopp, Germany on Dec. 5, 1917. His father immigrated to the United States in 1923, and a year later, Elise and Werner joined him. The records I found said they traveled on the ship “Ohio,” to Southhampton, England, and then took the ship “Cameronia” to New York, arriving just before Christmas. I found a form under Gus’s name applying for U.S. citizenship, and Werner’s census records shows he is a naturalized citizen.
Gus was a baker in an Omaha bakery, but after the family learned the English language, they moved to Tilden where Gus started his own bakery, and then they sold that business and they moved to Osmond in 1926. They had a bakery and a café, and then in 1932 they expanded to include a grocery store – Golter’s Store. By that time, Werner had a younger brother, Arthur, born in 1927. The Golters’ youngest son, Paul, was born in 1936 — so the boys were spaced out with almost 10 years between them!
Werner graduated from Osmond High School in 1936, then attended Wayne College and two years at the University at Lincoln. According to his obituary, he received many superior ratings in music and other scholastic activities. I found an article in September of 1937 showing the students who had pledged to the University of Nebraska fraternities. Werner is listed under repledges for the Beta Sigma Psi fraternity.
In the 1940 census, Werner is living with his parents and two younger brothers in Osmond, working in the bakery at his father’s store. In October of that year, he registered for the draft. His registration card describes him as 5 ft., 10 inches tall with brown hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.
On July 12, of 1941, Werner married Joanne Lindberg of Laurel. The couple went to the Black Hills for their honeymoon, then returned to Osmond where Werner once again worked in the bakery. They had three children within the next 10 years: Michael, born about 1943; Rodger, about 1947, and Carla, around 1949.
Werner was drafted in April 1942, and served until December of 1945 in the 1377th Army Air Force Base Unit Squadron B.
In a brief history of the 1337th I found, it said the 1337th Army Air Force Basic Unit, stationed at Sookerating Air Base in northeast India, flew supply missions over “the Hump” into China. “The Hump” is a composite of rugged, towering, mountain peaks, impenetrable jungles, bottomless ravines, flooding rivers, insect-infested swamps and, worst of all, unpredictable, vicious, merciless and unequalled weather. There is much more to this story, but not enough space to tell it all. Suffice to say, Golter must have been one of the brave men in the 1337th, although according to his obituary, he served in France.
I found an interesting article in the Osmond Republican titled “4th in 4 generations born while father in Army.” According to the article, Werner and Joanne's first child, a son (Michael), was born while his father was at Vernon, TX, not able to secure a furlough to come home. It went on to say that, “decidedly unusual” was that Werner was born in Germany while his father, Gus, was serving his country at the front. Also, Mrs. Gus Golter’s brother was born while his father was engaged in the occupation at Metz, and her mother was born while her father was fighting for his country in 1866.
Werner was discharged Dec. 15, 1945, just in time for Christmas! For several months after he was discharged, he helped his father run the newly purchased ranch north of Orchard. Then he purchased the Ford Garage at Orchard.
The 1950 census shows him living in Orchard, where he owned the garage and listed his occupation as auto salesman. It also shows him with his wife, Joanne, and his children Michael, 7, Rodger, 3, and Carla, 1.
It was on May 13, 1950, that Werner was injured in a car crash four miles west of Laurel on Highway 20. Riding with him and injured less seriously was Philip Wirth. Both men were taken to a Wayne hospital after the accident.
According to the accident report, Golter’s 1950 Ford was sighted speeding on the highway by Patrolman Clarence Mayhew. He chased the Golter car for 30 miles before it crashed on a curve. As I was reading this, I wondered why he didn’t stop, and if the reason why was worth what happened next.
Both men were thrown from the car when it rolled. A later news article said he was reported still unconscious, with pneumonia and a high fever under control, and had suffered severe head injuries.
He died May 29, 1950, of “multiple lacerations of the brain,” according to his death certificate. His obituary stated that he had been taken to a Sioux City hospital from Wayne a day earlier for an operation, but failed to survive his injuries. He was just 33 years old. He was survived by his wife and three children, Michael, 7, Roger, 3, and Carla, 1.
Funeral services were held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church at Orchard, and he was buried in the Osmond city cemetery. He, his wife and his parents are buried in the Golter plot which is several rows up from the gate and most of the way across the cemetery to the right.
