|
- |
||
|
to MAIN PAGE
-
Happy Birthday, Herb!
Herbert G. Krausz was born on August 9th, 1907. While he is now at rest, his daughter and grandchildren will gather to have a night to celebrate his life, share stories and pictures, and enjoy some of his favorite foods. -
Humble our hearts, make us truly thankful for the blessings we daily receive. We ask for Christ's sake. Amen
Herbert Lee Krausz Sept. 18, 1933 - Nov. 19, 1950.
Herbert Lee Krausz, the son of Herb and Jean (nee Cotter) lived with his grandparents, Leonard and Leena Cotter, in Thompsonville, IL.
Jean had remarried by 1949 to Coy Spurlin, and apparently lived in Chicago, IL. Sometime later they would move to Litttle Rock, AR. Herbert would also re-marry in July, 1950. The difficulties of a son living with neither parent would soon pale.
In the wee hours of a Sunday morning five teenagers were riding in a 1937 vintage vehicle, possibkly even this 1937 Buick Coupe.
They had been to a basketball game. Three of the teenagers were seventeen - one was Herbert Lee Krausz, the driver of the car.
At 2am they were three hundred feet from the Big Muddy Bridge - between Benton and Buckner, IL, on highway 34. There two vehicles crashed head on.
It was November 19, 1950.
Three teenagers were killed in the crash- and three others were taken to the hospital. The driver of the other car was also killed.
Herbert Lee was one of the seventeen year olds killed.
That following Wednesday his funeral took place. Members of the Galatia basketball team were pallbearers. He was buried at the Ebeneezer Cemetery, outside Galatia, near Rileyville. Later his grandfather, Leonard, and grandmother, Leena, would rest beside him. A sad epitaph was inscribed upon his stone - "Our Only Son".
The pain of loss even longer. Herbert Lee's father could not talk about him or this accident. No correspondence survived, and only the four pictures you see at right. The only other item that Herb left behind regarding his son was a penciled note on a 2 1/2 by 4 inch note paper:
H.L.K Born Sept. 18, 1933 - Died Nov. 19, 1950 Age 17 yr, 2 mo and 1 day
A promising life had been cut short.
But not forgotten. And now you know him, too.
On Nov. 19th we will stop and remember this young man.
Below is the article that appeared in the Daily Register, Harrisburg, IL on November 19, 1950.
|
- -
The Krausz Family Burial Plots, New Memphis, IL. -
Funeral Cards of Valentin and Katharina Krausz
The Krausz family lived in New Memphis, Illinois. Valenine and Katarina Krausz would have a number of sons, including George (pictured standing in the photo below, left). - George would marry a girl named Bertha, and would have a number of children. One of their sons, Herbert would marry twice. He would have a son, Herbert Lee, who would sadly die while yet a teenager. - Herbert's first marriage would not last. However, he would later marry Mary Heldman - and that is a story! -
The Krausz Family
Herbert's graduation from Mascouth High School (1922)
-
George and Bertha Krausz Gravestone, New Memphis,IL. -
Herbert G. Krausz As a toddler With his brothers Confirmation Graduation from Mascoutah High school (1922)
Herbert G. Krausz - Herbert would marry Jean Ann Cotter on Dec. 29, 1932. We do not have a picture of Jean at present. Herb would own a Buick dealership in the Chester, Illinois area.
Herb and Jean would have a son, Herbert Lee Krausz, on Sept. 18, 1933.
Herbert Lee would be killed in a car accident, as detailed in the left column.
In Sept. 2008, Herb's daughter and Herbert Lee's half-sister, Pat, would visit existing family on Herb's first wife's side. They would graciously give her Herbert Lee's high school year books, share stories, and give her the glass headlight lens from the car Herbert Lee was driving.
The Cotter family still live son the land where Herbert Lee's grandparents lived, and a red storage building now stands on the site where their house stood.
Herb with Herbert Lee
While on the trip in Sept. 2008, Pat made the visit to the place where Herbert Lee was killed, and to the cemetery where he and his grandparents are buried. The dark line in the left hand picture is 300 feet from the bridge - the place where the cars collided. At right is Herbert Lee's gravestone.
LEFT: The place where Herbert lee was killed. RIGHT: Herbert Lee's gravestone, located Sept., 2008
Unfortunately, they would divorce Nov. 24, 1941. Three days later Herb would enter the army, and records show that he applied for a family allowance for Herbert Lee from the army, which would be sent c/o L.H. Cotter in Thompsonville, Il - Jean's father's residence.
In July,1944, Herb would leave for overseas duty, and would be involved in the New Guinea, So. Phillipines and Luzon campaigns. He would be discharged Oct. 22, 1945.
Before and after the service, herb would work for some fourteen years for Richmond County (MO) Motors.
In the late 1940's Herb would meet Mary Hilda Heldman oat a dance in St. Louis, and on July 31, 1950 they would marry.
Three months later a terrible tragedy occurred, which is detailed in the left sidebar.
Herb and Mary would live with at first with her father, Gustave Heldman, then purchase a house in Kirkwood, MO. There they would have a daughter, and later purchase a home in Florissant, MO.
Herb and Mary Krausz Mary Hilda Krausz (nee Heldman) on their honeymoon -
Herb, Mary, Gustave and Patty
Gravestone of Herbert and Mary Krausz Lake Charles Cemetery, St. Charles MO.
|
|
