Victor Henry Winkels1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 15396, (1913 - 1945)
FatherPeter John Winkels6 (abt 1877 - 29 Oct 1928)
MotherMargaretha Molitor4,5 (abt 1876 - 1 Mar 1928)

Key Events:

Birth: 10 Sep 1913, Stevens Co., Minnesota7,8,9
Marriage: Ella M. Stephenson (28 Feb 1918 - 21 Sep 2012)10,11
Death: 30 Apr 1945, France12,11,8
Burial: Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France10

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Victor Henry Winkels was born on 10 Sep 1913 in Stevens Co., Minnesota.7,8,9 He appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Donnelly Twp., Stevens Co., Minnesota, in the household of his parents, Peter John Winkels and Margaretha Molitor.6
     His mother died on 1 Mar 1928, when Victor was 14 years old.13 His father died on 29 Oct 1928, when Victor was 15 years old.14
     Victor appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Donnelly Twp., Stevens Co., Minnesota, enumerated 5 Apr 1930, in the household headed by his oldest brother, John, age 30, and sister Alice, age 23, with their siblings Frances, Ablin, and Berthella. They reported that they were renting their farm, and they owned a radio.15
     He was a farm laborer, presumably on the family farm, by age 16. By 1940 he was a carpenter, doing building construction. That year he reported he had been unemployed 15 weeks, but had worked 38 weeks the prior year, earning $500.16,17
     Victor appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Morris, Stevens Co., Minnesota, at 518 Eleventh St., enumerated 2 Apr 1940, reporting that he owned a home valued at $1,200. His older sister Alice and his younger siblings Alvin, Frances, and Berthella were listed as living with him.17
     Victor enlisted 10 Feb 1941 as a private in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps at Morris, Minnesota. He had previously served in the National Guard.18 He later served with the 409th Infantry Regiment, 103th Infantry Division. He had achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant when he was killed.3
     Victor was awarded the Purple Heart for his service.19
     Victor married Ella M. Stephenson, daughter of Sygurd Marineus Stephenson and Ida Thompson.10,11
     Victor died on 30 Apr 1945 in France at age 31.12,11,8 He was buried in Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France.10

Children:
     There were no children with Ella M. Stephenson

Citations

  1. [S6345] "Birth Certificate Index," Minnesota Historical Society, record for Victor Henry Winkels, citing cert. no. 1913-32302.
  2. [S6347] Peter Winkels household, 1920 U.S. Census, Stevens Co., Minnesota, shows name as Victor Winkels.
  3. [S6344] Victor H. Winkels, Headstone Inscription and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949.
  4. [S6345] "Birth Certificate Index," Minnesota Historical Society, record for Victor Henry Winkels, citing cert. no. 1913-32302, shows mother's maiden name as Molitor.
  5. [S6347] Peter Winkels household, 1920 U.S. Census, Stevens Co., Minnesota, shows him as the son of her husband.
  6. [S6347] Peter Winkels household, 1920 U.S. Census, Stevens Co., Minnesota.
  7. [S6345] "Birth Certificate Index," Minnesota Historical Society, record for Victor Henry Winkels, citing cert. no. 1913-32302, shows date, county, and state.
  8. [S1000] "Social Security Death Index," Ancestry.com, record for Victor H. Winkels, Soc. Sec. No. 470-18-2997, shows date.
  9. [S6344] Victor H. Winkels, Headstone Inscription and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949, shows state.
  10. [S6344] Victor H. Winkels, Headstone Inscription and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949, shows her as next of kin.
  11. [S807] Ernest A. Reigel and Ella S. Winkels, Marriage Record, marriage statistics form shows name as Ella Winkels, father's surname as Stephenson, that she was widowed, and her second marriage.
  12. [S6344] Victor H. Winkels, Headstone Inscription and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949, shows date, and he was buried in France.
  13. [S75] "Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002," Ancestry.com, record for Margaret Winkels, citing cert. no. 15505.
  14. [S75] "Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002," Ancestry.com, record for Peter John Winkle, citing cert. no. 15509.
  15. [S6348] John P. Winkels household, 1930 U.S. Census, Stevens Co., Minnesota.
  16. [S6348] John P. Winkels household, 1930 U.S. Census, Stevens Co., Minnesota, shows occupation as laborer, industry as general farm.
  17. [S6349] Victor H. Winkles household, 1940 U.S. Census, Stevens Co., Minnesota.
  18. [S1356] "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," Ancestry.com, record for Victor H Winkels.
  19. [S87] "World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas," Ancestry.com, record for Victor H Winkels.