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Flaming, Wilhelm B. (1917-1942)
Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1942 Oct 27 p. 14
Birth date: 1917 Nov 7
text of obituary:
Wilhelm B. Flaming, Sohn von Bruder und Schwester John J. Flaming, wurde am 7. Nov. 1917 nahe Dubois, Idaho geboren. Im Dezember 1919 zogen die Eltern mit ihm wieder zurück nach Kansas. Hier vollendete er 8 Jahre Elementar-schule und 2 Jahre in der Gössel Hochschule. Am 16 Mai 1937 wurde er auf das Bekenntnis seines Glaubens an Jesus seinen persönlichen Erlöser getauft und als Glied in die Alexanderwohl Gemeinde aufgenomen [sic aufgenommen], deren treues Glied er blieb. Einige seiner liebsten Bibelverse waren: “Der aller Welt Richter ist sollte der nicht recht richten.” Erste Mose 19: 25. — “Die Freude am Herrn ist eure Stärke.” Neh. 8:10. — “Wir wissen aber, daß denen, die Gott lieben, alles zum Besten mitwirkt, denen, die nach dem Vorsatz berufen sind.” Röm. 8: 28. Als nach dem neuen Wehrgesetz Camp Henry, Ill. am 9. Dezember 1941 eröffnet wurde, war er seiner der ersten, die hier den Dienst für die Regierung antraten. Ein anderer der hier Dienenden schrieb: Wir, die später kamen, schauten immer zu ihm als zu einem Erfahrenen Dienenden und wer mit ihm intimer bekannt wurde, schätze seine stets freundliche Haltung. Er war zum letzten mal auf Urlaub daheim von 14 – 25. August. Am Sonntag Morgen wurde bemerkt daß er nicht wohl war da er nicht am Frühstückstisch war. Sie fanden ihn im Bett an Magenbeschwerden. Um 10:30 wurde er zur camp Krankenstube gebracht wo er besser beobachtet werden konnte. Zu Mittag aß er einen Sandwich, welches Unwohlsein verursachte und am Abend war seine Temperatur 101.5 Grad. Es wurde versucht einen Arzt zu bekommen, aber von den zwei Aerzten war einer nicht zuhause und der andere krank im Bett. Montagmorgen war die Temperatur einen weiteren Grad gestiegen. Als dann der Arzt kam stellte er fest daß es Gedärmeflu sei, aber am Abend war seine Temperatur etwas über 104 Grad. Dienstag war etwas besser und auch das Fieber war weniger. Mittwoch als die andern beim Frühstück waren rief er plötzlich um Hilfe. Er sagte: Ruft den Arzt, ich halte diese Schmerzen nicht viel länger aus. Er wurde zum St. Margarets Hospital in Spring Valley gebracht. Hier wurde er operiert. Ded Blinddarm war aufgebrochen und es hatte schon starke Bauchfell entzündung eingesetze. Die Aerzte sagten, er könne nur 5 bis 30 Stunden leben und um 8:35 Donnerstagmorgen starb er gerade als seine Eltern und Mae Banman beim Hospital ankamen. Er ist alt geworden 24 Jahre 11 Monate und 1 Tag. Menno Holdeman, Camp Krankenstube Wärter gibt ihm folgendes Zeugnis: ich bin der vollen Ueberzeugung, daß Bill zu seinem Schöpfer gegangen ist. Er lebte solch ein vorbildliches Leben, daß wir alle dadurch angespornt werden ihm darin zu folgen.” Eine kleine Schwester und eine kleine Nichte gingen ihm in Tode voran. Es trauern um ihn: Sein Vater und Mutter, seine Braut, Mae Banman, 4 Brüder und 4 Schwestern, Mr. und Mrs. John B. Flaming, Mr. und Mrs. Jacob B. Flaming, Mrs. und Mr. Rudolf Hiebert, Mrs. und Mrs. Mennno Hiebert, Mrs. und Mr. Adolf E. Franz und Theodore, Susie und Alvin zuhause und 4 Nichten, 9 Neffen sowie viele Freunde. Das Begräbnis wurde Sonntag dem 11. Oktober in der Alexanderwohl Kirche abgehalten. Trostreden hielten Rev. P. H. Unruh Ps. 17:8, und Rev. J. J. Banman Römer 8: 28.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1942 Oct 15 p. 5
text of obituary:
. . .
— The whole Alexanderwohl community was saddened last week when the report spread that Willie B. Flaming, son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Flaming had died at the C. P. S. camp at Henry, Ill., Thursday morning, Oct. 8. His parents were notified of his serious illness and together with his fiance, Mae Banman, they took the train immediately but arrived just as their son passed away. Willie became sick Saturday night, Oct.3, and on the following day was removed to the camp infirmary because of abdominal pains and high fever. The doctor diagnosed the sickness as intestinal flu. In the meantime Willie's temperature had gone up to 104 degrees, and on Wednesday morning his pain became so severe that it was decided to take him to a hospital in Spring Valley, Ill. An emergency operation there revealed a ruptured appendix, but peritonitis had already set in and death followed on Thursday morning. The funeral, one of the largest at the Alexanderwohl church this year, was held Sunday afternoon. Willie, who was 24 years old, is survived by his parents; four brothers, John, Jacob, Theodore and Alvin, the latter two at home; and four sisters, Mrs. Rudolf Hiebert, Mrs. Menno Hiebert, Mrs. Adolf E. Franz, and Susie at home.
The Mennonite obituary: 1942 Nov 17 p. 26
text of obituary:
WILHELM B. FLAMING, son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Flaming, was born on November 7, 1917, near Dubois, Idaho. In December, 1919, they moved to Kansas. Here he finished two years of work at Goessel Rural High School. On May 16, 1937, he joined the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Rom. 8:28, was a favorite verse of his. When Camp Henry was opened December 9, 1941, he was in the group who started the camp. A fellow campee writes of him as follows: "We who came alter looked to him as one of the experienced campees and every one who became intimately acquainted with him appreciated his constant friendly attitudes."
The campees didn't realize that he was sick until he did not appear at the breakfast table. They found him in bed with an upset stomach. At 10:30 he was removed to the camp infirmary where he could be under constant care. For lunch he ate a sandwich. This made him feel like vomiting, and Sunday evening his temperature had risen to 101.5. They tried to get a doctor, but one was out of town and the other was sick in bed. Monday morning his temperature had gone up a degree, and when the doctor came that morning he diagnosed it as intestinal flue. During the day the doctor's prescriptions seemed to do no good, and by the evening when the doctor called again his temperature had gone up to 104 degrees plus. Tuesday morning the doctor found him very much better. Wednesday morning he was apparently some better including his temperature. While they were eating the patient suddenly called for help. he had severe abdominal pain. he said, "Call the doctor, because I don't think that I can stand this pain much longer." This all happened at about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. He was removed to a hospital. He was operated upon. They found his ascending colon misplaced. This had led to a misrepresentation of facts. The first diagnosis was intestinal flu, but the operation proved a ruptured appendix and severe peritonitis. The doctors gave him from five to thirty hours to live. from 9:00 p.m. to about 5 a.m. he seemed to rally. After this he grew weaker and weaker and at 8:35 a.m., Thursday, he passed away at the age of twenty-four years. he died just when his parents with Mae Banman arrived.
Menno Holdeman, camp infirmary attendant, testifies, "Our fellow campee led such an exemplary life before us all that we are challenged with his life." He leaves to mourn his departure: His father and mother, his fiancee, Mae Banman; four brothers and four sisters, John B. Flaming, Jacob B. Flaming, Mrs. Rudolph Hiebert, Mrs. Menno Hiebert, Mrs. Adolf E. Franz, and at home Theodore, Susie, and Alvin.