Private Frank W. Burbrink

Profile Parents: Henry and Elizabeth Burbrink
Birth: January 23, 1893, Seymour, Indiana
Occupation: Farmer
Entered service: August 26, 1918, Brownstown, Indiana
Sent to: Camp Custer, Mich.; assigned to 3rd Company, 1st Training Battalion, 160th Depot Brigade
Transferred to: Company G, 14th Ammunition Train
Death: Pneumonia; October 5, 1918, Camp Custer, Michigan
Buried at Jonesville, Jackson County, Indiana
Survived by widow: Alvina Burbrink, Seymour, Indiana

The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Monday, October 7, 1918
Page 4

INFLUENZA FATAL TO LOCAL SOLDIER

Private Frank Burbrink Died Saturday After Short Illness at Camp Custer, Mich.

WIFE IN SERIOUS CONDITION

Special Permit Given for Military Funeral at Jonesville Church Tuesday Afternoon.

Private Frank Burbrink, aged twenty-five years, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Burbrink, of Peter's Switch, died of Spanish influenza Saturday afternoon, following a short illness at Camp Custer, Mich., where he was in training. He entered the service with a Jackson county quota on August 26, this year, and was sent immediately to Camp Custer.

The first information that came to his parents of his illness was contained in a letter delivered last Wednesday. He had written the letter and stated that he was not feeling well and had been placed in quarantine that day. The letter did not indicated that he was in a critical condition, and it is believed that complications developed later. About noon Saturday Mr and Mrs. Burbrink received a message from the base hospital, stating that his condition was serious. The message also stated that his wife had given away under the nervous strain and was in a serious condition. About four hours later another message was delivered and it carried the sad news of his death which occurred about 1 o'clock.

Fred Burbrink, an uncle, and Theodore Bolte, brother-in-law of the soldier, went to Battle Creek, Mich., Sunday and returned with the body this morning. The body was taken to the home of the parents. The young wife has completely broken down under the nervous strain and is temporarily mentally deranged. Physicians are hopeful, however, that she will regain control of herself later. The young couple were married about two weeks before he entered the army. A few days ago Mrs. Burbrink went to Battle Creek so that she could be with her husband while he was off duty.

Arrangements had been made for a military funeral at the Jonesville Lutheran church Tuesday afternoon, but the quarantine order resulted in a cancellation of the plans. However, a special permit was afterwards given for the public funeral. The body has been embalmed so there is no danger of the disease spreading, it is stated. The funeral will be conducted at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Jonesville church.

The young soldier was a young man of excellent character and his death comes as a great chock to his scofres of friends. The family have the sympathy of the community. The young man is survived by his widow, his parents, three brothers, Ben, Carl and Walter, of Peter's Switch and a sister Mrs. Lydia Kiel, who lives near Jonesville. His young widow, who before her marriage was Miss Vinnie Bolte, is at the home of her brother, Theodore Bolte, near Peter's Switch.