A good German name, the Wenkel clan came to Michigan, settling in Wisconsin and Illinois as far as I can tell. They tended to be farmers, with current Wenkel members who are very intelligent. Quite a few of the clan enlisted in the military.
In this decade, he experienced the death of father August Friederich Andreas Wenkel, 5 October 1951, Standish, Arenac, Michigan
1951 ANC10_benefits_pay
1969, age 69
In this decade his brother died, Fred Felix Wenkel, 21 March 1969, Standish, Arenac, Michigan
1972, age 72
In this decade, five siblings died as well as his own death.
Death of sister Anna Wenkel, 16 May 1972, Montclair, Essex, New Jersey
Death of brother August Paul Wenkel, 24 July 1973, Wauconda Lake, Illinois
Death of sister Alvena Marie Wenkel, 30 October 1975, Asbury, Warren, New Jersey
Death of sister Karolina Friederike Sophie Wenkel, 32 October 1975, Standish, Bay, Michigan
Death of sister Frieda Caroline Wenkel, 17 November 1978, Glencoe, Cook, Illinois
Something I just noticed. Anna died just a year before my grandfather August. Alvena and Karolina died within a day of each other.
1979, age 79
Died, 28 August 1979, Glencoe, Cook, Illinois, buried Northbrook, Cook County, Illinois. He died two months after I graduated from High School, but I never knew it.
Andrew F. Wenkel 1979 obituary
Wenkel
Andrew F. Wenkel, beloved husband of Emily L., fond brother of Dora Hohlfelder, Alvena Schnetzer, Celia Schinler, Bertha Barber and Sophia Hoder. Funeral ... Interment at Sacred Heart Cemetery....
November 10, 1913, Chicago, Illinois. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
1913, age 13
Historical Insight -- Great Lakes Storm of 1913. How did this affect their farm?
The storm is historically known by several names including the “Big Blow”, the “Freshwater Fury,” and the “White Hurricane.”November 10, 1913, Chicago, Illinois. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
1914, age 14
Death of brother William Carl Wenkel, 2 February 1914, Gibson, Bay, Michigan. Did the previous storm cause Willie's death?
April 7, 1917, San Francisco, California. Credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Newspapers.com
1917, age 17
Historical Insight -- America Enters World War I
from Ancestry.com
President Wilson’s speech to Congress was published across the United States. On April 6, 1917, he asked that “all officers, civil or military, of the United States that they exercise vigilance and zeal in the discharge of the duties incident to such a state of war.”
Historical Insight -- Registering for the Draft in World War I
from Ancestry.com
About 1917, New York. Credit: FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Each prospective soldier went through two complete medical examinations. The first by local physicians following their induction, the second at the mobilization camp before training. By the end of the war, these examinations included psychiatric evaluations.
No middle name listed here, his address is RR #2, Standish, Arenac, Michigan. Some people have his birth month as June, but here it is an abbreviated word for January. He is white, native-born. He is a Farmer working for his father August at the same address. I think this is his signature.
On the back side, we see that he is of medium build, medium height with blue eyes and brown hair. He registered for the draft on September 12, 1918.
If you want to see what was going on in the news in Arenac County, here is a great source -- Arenac County Dateline.
1919 Historical Insight -- Red Scare Palmer Raids
from Ancestry.com
Credit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/UIG via Getty Images
