World War II Veterans of Arenzville, Illinois
1941 – 1945
When the world went to war for the second time, Arenzville answered again. Men and women from this small Illinois community served on every front – the Pacific, North Africa, Europe, and the skies above them all.
178 names. One community. One of history’s greatest conflicts.
| 178 | 12 | 5+ | 1941 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Veterans Documented |
† Killed in Active Duty |
Women Who Served |
Year of First Service |
| 178 | 1 | 5+ | 1941 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Veterans Documented |
† Killed in Active Duty |
Women Who Served |
Year of First Service |
Browse the World War II Veterans Directory
178 documented veterans – search and filter by name, lifespan, residence, or service dates. Select any veteran to view their full biography, personal page, photographs, or stories where available.
A Community Called to Serve – Again
Less than twenty-five years after the last of Arenzville's sons returned from the Great War, the community faced another call to arms. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into a global conflict that had already consumed much of the world.
The response from Arenzville was immediate and total.
178 men and women from the Arenzville community served during World War II – the largest mobilisation this community had ever seen. They served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Army Air Forces, and the Women’s branches of the armed services. They were deployed across the globe – to the beaches of Normandy, the islands of the Pacific, the deserts of North Africa, and the skies above occupied Europe.
Some came from the same families that had sent men to the Civil War and World War I. The Burrus family sent seven sons. Four Charlesworths served. Four Zulaufs. Five members of the Peck family. The depth of sacrifice from individual families is staggering, and it is written in the names on this page.
Among those who served were also women – Mary Jane Looker, Letha Lovekamp, Mable Jean Peck, Rosemere Peck, Ruth Stamper, and others – who took up military service at a time when doing so meant breaking new ground.
And on the home front, the community rallied around those who had gone. The youth group at Trinity Lutheran Church wrote, edited, and published The Walther League News – a newsletter mailed to every Arenzville service man and woman – keeping the connection between community and soldier alive across thousands of miles of ocean and war.
One member of this community, Louis Kloker, made the ultimate sacrifice and did not return.
“The letters are filled with news from the homefront as well as news from the service personnel.” – Community record of the Walther League News, Trinity Lutheran Church, Arenzville
Who Is Included in This Record?
A veteran is included in this archive if evidence confirms at least one of the following:
- He or she was born in the Arenzville community
- He or she resided in Arenzville at the time of their service
- He or she is otherwise documented as connected to the Arenzville community
Killed in Active Duty
Of the 178 men and women from Arenzville who served in World War II, one made the ultimate sacrifice.
Louis Kloker - Arenzville, Illinois
Killed during active duty – World War II
Louis Kloker's name is recorded here so that it is never forgotten. He served. He gave everything.
If you have information about Louis Kloker's service branch, unit, theatre of war, or burial location, please contact us. Every detail helps honour his memory and complete his record.
The Tattler: Letters Between Home and the Front
"The letters are filled with news from the homefront as well as news from the service personnel."
Arenzville's Living Link to Its Servicemen and Women
During World War II, the youth group at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arenzville did something remarkable. They wrote, edited, and published a community newsletter – The Walther League News – and mailed it to every Arenzville man and woman in military service. The newsletter became known locally as "The Tattler."
The Parade
When the war ended and Arenzville's veterans came home, the community celebrated. Photographs and records of the homecoming parade are preserved as part of the World War II archive.
Help Us Honour Every Name
With 178 veterans – and more possibly still undocumented – this page depends on the community to stay complete. If you have a name, a photograph, a letter, a Tattler copy, or a family story connected to an Arenzville World War II veteran, we want to hear from you.
Every contribution strengthens this permanent record.