Person:Herbert Holtke (1)

Birth: Nov. 20, 1895 Peoria County Illinois, USA Death: Jul. 31, 1918, France

Son of William & Fredericka (Schnoor) Holtke. Private, Co E, 125th Inf, 32nd Division. Killed in Action at Aisne-Marne, France. Herbert Holtke American Legion Post 285 in Lake Wilson, MN named after him.

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KILLED IN ACTION

Herbert Holtke of Edelstein Offers Life on Battlefields of Europe July 31st

Word was received by Mr. and Mrs. William Holtke of Edelstein that their son, Herbert Holtke, had been killed in action July 31, no further information being given. The young soldier was a member of the 125th infantry and had gone with the selected men from Minnesota in November. He had been working of a farm there.

Mr. Holtke was 23 years old last May. He was born in Akron township, Peoria county, and had lived here practically all of his life. In his last letter to his parents, which was dated July 15, he wrote: "I was in the trenches July 4th but am back again on a rest for a short time. Rest there is out of the question. And head, you think that you are roasting over there; well, it is 100 in the shade here. I am feeling fine."

He is survived by his parents, three sisters, Mrs. M. [Elsie] Callahan of Peoria, Mrs. E. [Lizzie] Stevens of Edelstein, and Mrs. M. Suson [Minnie, w/o Maurice Fuson] of Brownford, Kan., and five brothers, Fred, John and William Holtke of this city, and Walter Holtke of Edelstein, and Herman of Greenfield, Iowa.

Herbert Holtke is the first lad from Edelstein to lose his life on the battlefields of Europe for humanity.