Home > United States of America > Nebraska > Gage County > Virginia > Virginia Cemetery > SGT Edward Yurka

SGT Edward Yurka

Birth	:	15 Mar 1918 Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	14 Apr 1945
Burial	:	Virginia Cemetery, Virginia, Gage County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.2186012, -96.5117035
Description	:	BEATRICE DAILY SUN, BEATRICE, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 10, 1944, FRONT PAGE SGT. EDWARD R. YURKA PRISONER OF GERMANS VIRGINIA, Aug. 10--The welcome news that their son, Sgt. Edward Yurka, was safe although a prisoner of war of the Germans was received today by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yurka of Virginia. Sgt. Yurka, a waist gunner on a Liberator with the Eighth air force, had been reported missing in a raid over Germany since July 12. The telegram read: "Report just received through the International Red Cross state that your son, Sgt. Edward R. Yurka, is... Read More	BEATRICE DAILY SUN, BEATRICE, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 10, 1944, FRONT PAGE SGT. EDWARD R. YURKA PRISONER OF GERMANS VIRGINIA, Aug. 10--The welcome news that their son, Sgt. Edward Yurka, was safe although a prisoner of war of the Germans was received today by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yurka of Virginia. Sgt. Yurka, a waist gunner on a Liberator with the Eighth air force, had been reported missing in a raid over Germany since July 12. The telegram read: "Report just received through the International Red Cross state that your son, Sgt. Edward R. Yurka, is a prisoner of war of the German government. Letter of information follows from the provost marshal general. Ulio, the adjutant general." Sgt. Yurka was the first inductee from Gage county. He arrived in England on D-Day. BEATRICE DAILY SUN, BEATRICE, NEBRASKA, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 21, 1946, FRONT PAGE GAGE COUNTY'S FIRST DRAFTEE BELIEVED DEAD EDWARD YURKA, FIRST GAGE DRAFTEE, THOUGHT DEAD; WAS PRISONER OF GERMANS Sgt. Edward Yurka, first Gage county draftee, is presumed by the war department to be dead. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yurka of Virginia, he became a U.S. airman and crashed two years ago during a flight over Germany. An army investigation has failed to reveal any trace of him. It is possible that he died as a result of a long forced march while he was a prisoner of the Germans. Sgt. Yurka was a member of the crew of a B-24 which crashed near Munich on July 12, 1944. Those who survived were captured and sent to a German prisoner of war camp. Early in February the prisoners were evacuated and forced to march for 54 days. Some of Sgt. Yurka's friends later reported that in April, during the march, he had been ill with laryngitis and dysentery and, they believed, was sent to a hospital. A thorough investigation by military authorities overseas failed to find any evidence as to what happened to him. He was born in Ulysses, Nebr., 28 years ago, graduated from the Liberty high school and was farming before he joined the army in February, 1941. First assigned to the medical department, he later was transferred to the air corps, and assigned to the 705th bombardment squadron, 446 bombardment group. It was as a member of this outfit that he crashed in Germany. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yurka, two brothers, Frank and Rudolph, and three sisters, Mrs. James Vzolanek, Mrs. Earl Jamison and Mrs. Virgil Flesner. Miss Thelma Housley was his fiancee. BEATRICE DAILY SUN, BEATRICE, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1949, PAGE 11 OBITUARY: EDWARD R. YURKA Edward R. Yurka, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yurka, was born near Dwight, Nebr., March 15, 1918. He attended high school in Liberty, Nebr., graduating in 1935. He then helped with the farm work until he entered the army on Febr. 18, 1941. He was assigned to the Medical Corps. In 1943 he was transferred to the army air forces as a waist gunner and was sent overseas to England on June 2nd, 1944. Five weeks later he was reported missing, later to learn he was a German prisoner of war. After ten months of prison, he died with diptheria near the end of the war on April 14, 1945. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yurka; three sisters, Mrs. Henrietta Jamison, Odell, Nebr., Mrs. Millie Zvolanek and Mrs. Clara Flesner of Liberty, Nebr., two brothers, Frank and Rudolph of Virginia and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted at the Christian church at Virginia Friday afternoon, June 17th, by Rev. Wayne Greene. Interment followed at the Virginia cemetery under the direction of the Bowhay Funeral Home. Thank you, Eric Ackerman Topeka, Kansas

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is SGT Edward Yurka's memorial?
SGT Edward Yurka's memorial is located at: Virginia Cemetery, Virginia, Gage County, USA.
When did SGT Edward Yurka death?
SGT Edward Yurka death on 14 Apr 1945 in
Where are the coordinates of the SGT Edward Yurka's memorial?
Latitude: 40.2186012
Longitude: -96.5117035

Family Members:

Parent

Frank Yurka

(1888 - 1960)

Mary Yurka

(1890 - 1967)

Siblings

Frank Yurka Jr.

(1909 - 2001)

Rudolph H Yurka

(1913 - 2000)

Henrietta Jamison

(1916 - 1996)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Virginia Cemetery
Virginia, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2186012, -96.5117035

2. Filley Cemetery
Filley, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2761002, -96.5306015

3. Stark Cemetery
Holmesville, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2122002, -96.6147003

4. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1462250, -96.4676820

5. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Burchard, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1822014, -96.4049988

6. Brethren Cemetery
Holmesville, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2125015, -96.6331024

7. Lewiston Cemetery
Lewiston, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2477989, -96.3882980

8. Kinney Cemetery
Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1102100, -96.5588800

9. Crab Orchard Cemetery
Crab Orchard, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3274994, -96.4366989

10. Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Beatrice, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2934100, -96.6521900

11. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Burchard, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1460991, -96.3683014

12. Blue Springs Cemetery
Blue Springs, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1526800, -96.6627000

13. Liberty Cemetery
Liberty, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0772018, -96.4982986

14. Burchard Cemetery
Burchard, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1383018, -96.3538971

15. Saint Marys Cemetery
Blue Springs, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1464005, -96.6806030

16. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Pickrell, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3456001, -96.6147003

17. Evergreen Home Cemetery
Beatrice, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2677994, -96.7052994

18. Barneston Cemetery
Barneston, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0661011, -96.5755997

19. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Barneston, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0653000, -96.5757980

20. Wymore Cemetery
Wymore, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1241989, -96.6917038

21. Calvary Cemetery
Wymore, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1225014, -96.6917038

22. Beatrice Cemetery
Beatrice, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2625970, -96.7332670

23. Rinne Cemetery
Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2472000, -96.2742004

24. Bethel Cemetery
Wymore, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0588989, -96.6513977