1920 - 1999
US Navy
Eldis "Bud" Weems was inducted into the Navy on July 14, 1942. He took his basic training at the U.S. Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Illinois. He transferred to Port Hueneme, California, where he was assigned to the Acorn 24 Amphibious Unit and sent overseas to the South Pacific to serve as a cook on a ship. Bud's unit returned to the U.S. where they were transferred to Oakland Air Force Base December 8, 1945. SC2C Weems was honorably discharged January 20, 1946, at Great Lakes, Illinois. Bud was a fifty-year member of the American Legion Emil Ewoldt Post #22 and a past commander. He was also a fifty-year member of VFW Post 3517.
Eldis "Bud" Weems
Funeral services for Eldis "Bud" Weems were held Thursday,
May 27, 1999, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Manning. Iowa. Pastor Daniel Vogel
and Pastor Curt Dwyer officiated the service with Carlys Stribe as organist.
Interment was held at Manning City Cemetery with Ken Pfannkuch, Bob Nissen, Charles
Escher, Lowell Stribe, Dixon Cole and Richard Wooster as casket bearers. Honorary
casket bearers were Jafe Weems, Josh Weems, Jed Weems, Jason Weems, Jared
Weems, Heather Weems, Jacob Weems, Robby Luetje, Sheri Luetje, Dylan Drake,
Melanie Drake, Casandra Scott and Cameron Scott.
Military honors were by the American Legion Emil Ewoldt, Post 22, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3517.
Eldis Marian "Bud", son of Earl and Mabel Crouch Weems, was born December 21, 1920, southwest of Boma, Iowa. He grew up on a farm southeast of Botna, where his parents lived for 26 years. Bud attended country school at Jefferson Township No. 6 where he graduated from the 8th grade. He attended Irwin High School for one year then stayed home to help his father with the farm work.
On July 6, 1942, Bud enlisted in the United States Navy and was sworn in on July 14, 1942, at Des Moines. After his basic training at the United States Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, he was transferred to Port Hueneme, California, where he was assigned to the ACORN 24 Amphibious Unit and sent overseas to the South Pacific. On December 8, 1945, Bud's unit returned to the United States where they were transferred to the Oakland Air Force Base and waited transportation home for Christmas. On January 20, 1946, Bud was honorably discharged at the United States Navel Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois.
On June 15, 1947, Bud was united in marriage with Norma Jean Nissen of Manning, Iowa. Six children were born to this union. They farmed for 14 years. Bud then managed L & M Bowling Lanes in Manning for sixteen years and drove a school bus for eleven years. He also worked at Manning Anhydrous Fertilizer for several years. Bud was a member of the American Legion Emil Ewoldt Post 22, where he received his 50 year pin and was past commander. He was also a 50-year member of the VFW post 3517. He was very active in bowling leagues, attending many state tournaments. He enjoyed umpiring ball games and fishing.
Above all, Bud was devoted to Curtis.
Bud was diagnosed with leukemia and spent time in Des Moines and Manning Hospitals
before his death at Manning Regional Healthcare Center on Monday, May 24, 1999 at the
age of 78 years, 5 months and 3 days.
Bud is preceded in death by his parents; son: Douglas Weems; granddaughter: Sheri
Luetje; grandson: Jacob Weems; and sister: Evelyn Borkowski.
Bud is survived by his wife, Norma Weems, of Manning; five children: Darrell Weems
and his wife, Della, of Adel; Myra and her husband, James Luetje, of Westside; Nancy
Drake of Omaha, Nebraska; Connie and her husband, Gordon Scott, of Marietta, Georgia;
Curtis Weems of Manning; eleven grandchildren; four sisters: Leona Hemminger of Elk
Horn; Lois Wegner of Manning; Opal Christensen of Humbolt; and LaRae Heller of
Carroll; a brother-in-law, Orlo Nissen, of Manning; a sister-in-law, Edna Nissen, of
Manning; nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
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Manning Monitor articles ------ 1943
Eldis Weems, Petty Officer
Eldis Weems, Seaman 1st Class Appreciates Monitor "Just a line in regard to your paper. I am stationed here at the Great Lakes. I appreciate getting the paper very much. I appreciate the fact the Legion is backing the I project and thank you and the Legion.
"I am stationed here as a ship's cook and am working for a rating. I like it very much and
would advise any young man that is due for service to join the U. S. Navy as it is as clean
a life as you could ask for and swell meals and good sleeping quarters. I wish to say
hello to all my friends and give them my best regards. Looking forward to my new paper
and ones to continue as long as I am here. Eldis Weems Writes Dear Sirs: Just a few lines to let you know that I am fine and am still at the Great Lakes. I have been receiving all my copies of the Manning Monitor. I have been advanced to Sc 3/c now, and am classed as 3rd class Petty, or sergeant. I wish to tell all my friends hello, and hope to keep on receiving my copy of the Monitor. Eldis M. Weems, Sc3/c Great Lakes, Ill. Eldis Weems at Port Hueneme Eldis Weems, S C 2c, writes from Port Hueneme, California, giving us a change of address. He arrived there New Years eve and says he will never forget that day. They are in a valley, near the mountains, and living in tents. It really gets cold at night, he states. He is in with the C.B's and Marines. He sends regards to all his friends at home and says in conclusion "I'll take a job of farming in good old Iowa any day." Manning Monitor articles ------ 1944
Attends Cook's School Eldis Weems In South Pacific Monitor Publi. Co. Dear Sirs: Just a few lines to let you know I have a change in address, which is on this letter to you. This leaves me fine and in good health. I had a swell trip and am now somewhere in the southwest Pacific. Due to military regulations we cannot give out any information but want to say hello to all my friends and members of the Manning Legion and to keep up the good work. I have seen many interesting things and will see more. I would like to be back on the farm again, but its educational to travel the world. You learn things you never knew before, such as how the natives live and work. I would like to hear from some of my friends at home, it's a real pleasure when we're so far away. Good luck and best wishes. Ed. Note: Sorry we can't print your complete address, Eldis, Our ;paper goes overseas and the censor says no. However, anyone wanting any soldier's address can come in and get it from us. Eldis Weems Gets Paper Overseas Dear Friends: Just a few lines in regard to my address now which is listed here; I received my first copy of the Monitor since arriving overseas and was glad to get it. I see by the letters some of the other boys wrote that I have been at the same places. I was at New Caledonia, and New Guinea, but my permanent location cannot be mentioned. I saw enemy action the first day we arrived and it has been going on continually, as they're cleaning up the Japanese snipers. Some that were missed in the main battle. I have not heard from the folks at home for some time, as the mail doesn't arrive too often as yet.
There are lots of coconuts, insects and birds around. Some which are very seldom seen in
the states. I have seen quite a few of the islands but I wouldn't trade a 160 acre farm in
Iowa for all I've seen over here. Weems on Admirally Island Dear Sirs: Just a few lines to say hello to my friends around Manning. This leaves me in good health, but the heat is rather hard on us but a good shower now and then helps to cool things down. We are allowed to tell where we are now, after being here some length of time. I like the duty pretty well here. It's not the worst in the world; of course being home on the farm is the best life yet. I am glad to see the Manning boys made the Coon Valley team, they done some great playing during the season. I have not been getting the paper very regularly, as newspapers do not come very fast overseas, but I am always glad to get them when they do some.
I was lucky enough to run into Alfred Bargenquast from Manilla out here. He is in the CBs
and a great branch of the service, and for the work these boys do, they -- deserve all the
credit they can possibly get. In Admiralty Islands Dear Sirs: Just a few lines to say hello to I all my friends around Manning. This leaves me fine and hope things are going fine around Manning. I have been receiving the Monitor quite regular. It's rather late at times but am always glad to get it. I like to read the Service men's column as I can tell where the boys are and how they are, doing.
I was sorry to read about my old friend Otto Porsch being injured in action, but hope he's
getting along well by this time. I also heard about Earl Schwieso getting injured and hope
it's nothing serious.
I am still in the Admiralty Islands. We have it pretty good now, but the heat is the worse.
I know how it is to be near the equator now. |