Pvt. Leon H. Stoelk Transferred
Pvt. Leon Stoelk writes that he has been transferred from Camp Hood, Texas to Camp Pickett, Va. He is receiving every issue of the Monitor and enjoys it very much and wants to thank the Legion and Monitor for it.
He is with the tanks and likes his work fine.
January 1943

The announcement was made by the U. S. War Department. Leon left home Oct. 19, 1942 for Camp Dodge and went from there to Camp Hood, Texas on Oct. 22. He was in training there until Jan. 12 of this year when he went to Camp Picket, Virginia. He left for North Africa on April 27th.
Leon was an assistant gunner in a tank.
Besides his parents he leaves two brothers, Merle and Donald at home and three sisters, Darlene, Jaenice (Mrs. Alvin Popp), and Berdene.

MANY ATTEND MEMORIAL SERVICE

A large group attended the Memorial services for Harry Keat and Leon Stoelk held in the Ohde Funeral Chapel, Sunday.

Out of town people present Included Mr. and Mrs. Louis Stuhr of Carroll ; Mrs. Ralph Klinkenfus and daughter Darlene of Glidden; Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Krause, Carroll; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Stuhr, Lanesboro; Mr. Wm. Stoelk Sr., Arcadia; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Stoelk Jr. and children of West Side; Mrs. Emma Becker, Browndale, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stoelk and Lester of Manilla; Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Backhaus, Mr. and Mrs. Lengheim, Mrs. J. J. McMahon and Madonna, all of Manilla, Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Heydt and children of Waltham, Minn.. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Neuman of Irwin; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stuhr, Mr. and Mrs. Heinle Otto, Botna; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Nulle, Manilla; Mr. Lawren Stoelk and Miss Lois Rohe of Wall Lake, Mrs. Reese E. Beam and Mrs. Bernice Fletchall, both of Grimes. Mrs. Beam's husband had been a pal of Leon Stoelk and had been his companion since Leon entered the service. He also took part in the battle in which Leon met his death.

Others present were Mrs. Ida Zender of Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. George Keat and family, Carroll; Mrs. D. H. Garvin, Clear Lake; Miss Nell Keat, Omaha and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Keat, Audubon.

Leon H. Stoelk
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Stoelk, of south of Manning, were notified by the U. S. War Department, Sept. 4, of the death of their son, Pvt. Leon H. Stoelk, killed in action July 22, 1943, probably in the invasion of Sicily. He was an assistant gunner with a tank battalion. Leon left home Oct. 19, 1942 for Camp Dodge and went from there to Camp Hood, Texas on Oct. 22. He was in training there until Jan. 12 of this year when he went to Camp Pickett, Virginia. He left for North Africa on April 27.

Besides his parents he leaves to mourn two brothers, Merle and Donald, and three sisters, Darlene, Jaenice (Mrs. Elvin Popp), and Berdene, all at home, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stoelk of Manning; also other relatives and a host of friends.

Leon was born March 6, 1921 on the farm 4 miles southwest of Manning where he lived until his induction into the army. With his brother Merle he operated a pickup baler. His pleasing disposition made for him many friends, and he will be missed greatly by all who knew him.

Manning Monitor article------1944

Leon Stoelk In North Africa
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Stoelk received a letter from their son, Leon, last week, stating that he had just arrived in North Africa somewhere with a convoy of troops. He stated that they had no trouble whatever in coming across. They left the state on April 27th. He says that the temperature is about 120 in the shade and very little shade.
When mail was distributed on arrival, he received 12 letters and two Monitors, dated 22nd and 29th of April, also one package.

He adds that the farmers around there are cutting their grain and have binders just as we have. The country is very beautiful.
They have only French money to spend a 20 frac bill being about the size of a V-Mail letter.
He closes by saying he is all right, and not to worry.

Private Stoelk, an assistant gunner in a tank, was killed in action July 22, 1943, during the invasion of Sicily. He left home Oct. 19, 1942, for Camp Dodge and from there went to Camp Hook, Tex., Oct. 22. On Jan. 12, 1943, he was sent to Camp Pickett, Va., and on April 27 that year his division sailed for North Africa.
Leon was born March 6, 1921 on the home farm four miles southwest of Manning where he lived until his induction in the army.

Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers, Merle and Donald, and three sisters, Darlene, Mrs. Otto Porsch; Janice, Mrs. Alvin Popp, and Berdene, at home.
The Rev. Brown Garlock, minister of the Methodist church officiated at the funeral; and burial followed in the Manning cemetery. Music was furnished by the American Legion quartet composed of Ray Pratt of Manning, Dale and Oliver Textor and Wesley Thomas, all of Coon Rapids.

Pallbearers, all local Legionnaires, were Glenn Jensen, Ivan Joens, Ray Schultz, Wilmer Ranniger, Roger Nissen and Melvin Musfeldt.
All local business houses were closed from 1:45 to 3 o'clock out of respect for the war victim.