Surnames: Yarkee, Yerke, Ryder, Barnum, Whipple, Griffiths, Bitter, Hoeft, Smith, Cramer, Solsberg, Berger, Botkin, Feind, Pokallus, Hafeman, Hitchon, Schuerman

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 06/14/1945

Yarkee, William (15 Dec. 1869 - 13 June 1945)

Funeral services for William Yarkee, 78 years old, who died Wednesday afternoon, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the Zink Funeral Home where the body is lying in state. The Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct a military funeral and internment will be made in the Abbotsford cemetery.

Mr. Yarkee was out in his garden, Wednesday morning, and in the afternoon he sent Raeann Ryder, the little daughter of his nephew, to get groceries. When she returned she found him lying dead.

He had been seriously ill with dropsy and pneumonia this spring but had recovered and was again around town.

Mr. Yarkee was born in Falkenburg, Germany, and came to America when only a small child. He lived at Butternut until he enlisted in the army at the time of the Spanish-American War.

He was placed on the retired list in General Orders No. 13, dated April 5, 1922, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.

The order is printed below:

"1. In compliance with paragraph 7, Special Orders, No. 74-E. War Department, March 31, 1922. Sergeant William Yarkee, (R-916804), D.E.M.L. 3d Disciplinary Barracks Guard Company, has been placed on the retired list after a continuous service of 21 years, 10 months and 4 days. Sergeant Yarkee was first enlisted December 28, 1898, and has served in the 3d, 15th and 22d Infantry, and in the United States Disciplinary Barracks Guard. He served creditably in the Philippine Islands with 3d Infantry, during the Spanish American War and Philippine Insurrection.

"Sergeant Yarkee has made a record that anyone may feel proud of, and is worthy of emulation.

"The Commandant, Officers and all men of his command, wish him success and happiness for many years to come.

"By Order of Colonel Barnum:

S. Whipple

Major Infantry (DOL)

Adjutant"

Following his return from the army he homesteaded a claim in Wyoming. After proving up on this he sold it and came to live at Abbotsford where he still has his sister, Mrs. Ida Ryder, and brother, Gus Yarkee.

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 06/21/1945

A large and impressive military funeral was held, Sunday afternoon, for William Yarkee, a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knaack-Thompson Post No. 865, of Abbotsford, Wis. The religious services, held at the Zink Funeral Home, where the body in the flag draped casket had been lying in state, were conducted by the Rev. G. E. Griffiths, of the Presbyterian church. These were followed by the ritual of the post in which ceremonies Commander Harvey Bitter, Sr., Vice Commander Ervin Bitter, Jr., Vice Commander Edwin Hoeft, Officer of the Day Lloyd Smith, and Chaplain Chesley Cramer participated.

Miss Helen Solsberg and Miss Muriel Johnson, accompanied by Mrs. W. R. Berger at the piano, sang "Face to Face," and "Some Day We’ll Meet Again."

The procession then formed with 28 comrades leading and carrying their flags and six service men, home on furloughs, as pallbearers, marching on either side of the hearse. The pallbearers were Walter Botkin, Arthur Feind, Lawrence Pokallus, John Bitter, Lyle Hafeman and Edward Hitchon.

At the cemetery Lloyd Smith sang the V.F.W. national hymn, "Sleep, Soldier Boy." Taps were sounded and a firing squad gave a last salute. Leo Hilber, home from overseas, was bugler and the firing squad were comrades from Colby and Abbotsford, Wis.

The flowers were carried by Mrs. Carl Scheuerman and Mrs. Harvey Bitter with Mrs. Ervin Bitter carrying the V.F.W. Emblematical cross, studded with red poppies, a floral tribute from the local post.

William Yarkee served our country for 21 years, nine months and 21 days. For almost nine years his services were on foreign soil, for which he was credited with double time. He was placed on the retired list with the rank of sergeant, a credit to his country.