WARREN W. WEGNER
August 13, 1923 - January 1, 1991

Warren is buried at Monroe Cemetery, Monroe, Iowa
He married Zella Mae (Waddle) Rickabaugh after her first husband died.

Four sons of Emil and Margaret Vehrs Wegner attended the Aspinwall school and later served their country. The family lived in Aspinwall from 1927 until 1939.

Warren entered the Navy in 1942 at Great Lakes and served during World War II in the Pacific area.
He was discharged in 1945 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Manning Monitor article ------ 1943

Warren Wegner in Navy
Great Lakes, Ill.
Warren W. Wegner 19, son of Mrs. Margaret Wegner, Manning, Ia., will start the New Year by giving all his efforts to a training program planned to condition him to fulfill one determined resolution ----- to defeat the axis wherever he may engage them as he undergoes recruit training at the U. S. Naval Training Station here.
Upon completing recruit training he will be granted a nine-day leave.

Will Attend Radio School
Evanston, Ill. Graduated in the upper portion of his "boot" training company, Warren W. Wegner, 19, son of Mrs. Margaret Wegner of Manning, is now attending the Naval Training School for radiomen at Northwestern university here.
Upon completion of the 16 week course he will be eligible for promotion to a petty officer rating and be assigned to duty with the fleet or at a shore station.

Here he is learning how to operate Navy radio transmitting and receiving equipment, in addition to receiving further training in the fundamentals of seamanship, military drill and Naval customs and procedure.

Warren Wegner at Evanston
Warren Wegner, son of Mrs. Margaret Wegner, is stationed at Evanston, Ill., and writes that he enjoys receiving the Monitor and extends his thanks to the American Legion and the Monitor.
He states that he is getting along well' in his training and sends greetings to all his friends here at home.

Warren Wegner Writes
Warren Wegner, somewhere in the South Pacific where he has been stationed for some time. He says that life on ship gets quite exciting at times. The officers are grand and all older "salts".

Warren writes that he met Bud Nickum and Russell Wiley some time ago but cannot tell just where. He went to school with them in Manning and they really enjoyed the get together although it was only for a short time. Warren enjoys the Monitor although it reaches him quite late at times.
He likes reading the soldiers column and to find what some of his buddies are doing and where they are stationed.
He says the "Monitor is a great paper in a spot like this and sends his thanks to the Legion and this office for sending it to him.

Manning Monitor article ------ 1944

Letter From Hawaii Hawaii, Dec. 25, 1944.
Dear Friends:
It's high time I'm letting you know that I am no longer aboard (censored) at present I am stationed on some rock in the Hawaiian Islands. Believe me it is just okay out here too, after being at sea for 14 months. This is the best place I have been since leaving the U. S. We even have women out here. Some Hawaiian gals are very beautiful.
I was transferred from my old ship to this beach nearly three weeks ago, so my Monitor is probably still going to the ship. I surely miss the paper but I can't give you another address because I will only be here for a short while. Do not send the paper to this address, just cancel it until I notify you of my permanent address. I'm only here for further transfer. I'm headed back to sea soon for some similar duty to my old ship.
I will dread it very much because any beach is better than sea duty.

In the past 14 months I have been in all the major sea engagements of the Pacific and now rate 9 battle stars. As far as I'm concerned I've seen all the action I want to, but the way things look will be going right back into the midst of it again. War is really a terrible thing and worst of all to my opinion, it has just a good start. I hope it will all end soon, but I can't see how it could. These slant-eyed Japs have to be showed and it will cost to show them. I was really sorry to read in the Monitor about some of my buddies from home who were killed and wounded. (Censored.)

The war has turned in our favor, but the home front still can't slow up.
It is movie time so will close for now.
As ever, Warren W. Wegner, R. M.2/c.

Manning Monitor article ------ 1945

MEMBER OF HORNET CREW HOME 20 DAYS
Warren Wegner, S. 2-c, son of Mrs. Margaret Wegner, received an unexpected 20-day leave from Okinawa. He is attached to the aircraft carrier, Hornet.
He intercepted a Jap message and 30 minutes after his commanding officer found out who had picked up the message.
Warren was on an airplane bound for the states. He will return to Okinawa. His promotion to second class was an added award.
His sister, Lucille, of Denver, game to spend the week in her home and be with her brother during his stay.

Warren Wegner Cited For Work In Pacific Zone
Warren W. Wegner R. M. 2/c son of Mrs. Margaret Wegner, member of commander carrier division five, Pacific fleet, was recently given a citation by Rear Admiral J. J. Clark for work done during the periods of February 10 to June 1945.
The citation read:
"For outstanding service as a member of the Flag Allowance of Commander Carrier Division Five during the period from 10 February to 1 June 1945 while engaged in operations against the enemy in Western Pacific waters.

"Working under heavy stress for prolonged periods he performed his assigned duties in an outstanding manner thereby contributing materially to the success of the operations of his command. His cheerful spirit of cooperation was most commendable.
His steadfast devotion to duty was in keeping " with the highest traditions of the United States naval service."

WARREN W. WEGNER Warren W. Wegner of 3703 Third St. died of cancer Tuesday, January 1, 1991, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. He was 67. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today at Highland Park Funeral Home, and burial of the cre-mains will be in Silent City Cemetery, Monroe, Iowa, at a later date.

Mr. Wegner, who retired in 1986 as a carpenter at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, was born in Crawford County and moved to Des Moines 25 years ago from Carroll County. He was a Navy Veteran of World War II and a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Manning and the American Legion.

Son of Emil and Margaret (Vehrs) Wegner, he was born August 13, 1923.

His siblings were Melvin, Paul, Lucille Thompson, Frank, Don, and Judith Wegner.

Survivors include his wife, Zella, a son, Jeffery of Kaneoke, Hawaii; a step-son, Dennis Rickabaugh of Newton; two sisters, Lucille Thompson of Eagle Grove and Judith Wegner of Des Moines; and two brothers, Frank of Sioux Rapids and Donald of Des Moines.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Iowa.