3 WW II veteran brothers honored in hometown

Posted on Oct 11, 2009 by Admin.

A statue of a Navy serviceman looks over the granite monuments honoring World War II veterans from the Gilbertville area at Veterans Park in Gilbertville. (Linda Freet photos)

GILBERTVILLE — For 85-year old Cletus Stubenrauch and his two older brothers, World War II means much more than just a page in history.

Cletus, and his brothers, Richard, 90, and Francis, 95, served in the war and were lucky enough to survive to tell their story.

Some 60 years after Germany invaded Poland to start the war, a new World War II memorial in the quaint town of Gilbertville — where the brothers grew up — honors the legacy of all who served.

“It’s sort of a thrill to have it mention our names,” Cletus said. “We’ve done our part. I’ve suffered plenty, all the way though.”

Clevus, who lives in Waterloo, was a German prisoner of war, and said he doesn’t like to talk about his experiences much. He summed it up by saying he was just glad when the war ended.

Richard, of Strawberry Point, said the memorial means a great deal to him and he feels pretty proud.

“We were all very lucky,” he said. “We all went to war and all came back.”

Remarkably, none of the brothers was injured in the war that killed an estimated 70 million people. Cletus said that, despite increasing challenges because of age, the brothers try to keep in touch.

Their niece Ann Rigdon said she knows her uncles don’t like to talk much about their days in battle, but said that, as they have aged, they have opened up more since they realize their untold stories will be lost once they’re gone.

“We all love them,” she said. “They’re fighters.”

To honor the lives lost and battles fought, the memorial consists of more than 500 bricks listing veterans’ names, and four statues to represent each branch of the military.

Linda Freet, who chaired the committee for the project, said the support from the community was just remarkable.

“People wouldn’t stop giving, and the project just kept growing,” she said, noting that the committee exceeded its $50,000 donations target.

Gilbertville already had a veterans park, but it was lacking proper recognition, Freet said.

On Oct. 3, a dedication ceremony was held, complete with a wreath laying and color guard.

“It’s just beautiful,” she said.

Though the eldest of the Stubenrauch brothers, Francis, who lives in Oregon, wasn’t able to attend, Cletus and Richard said they were very proud to to see the memorial in their hometown.

-By Anna Lothson, Reporter