William Reints - Private

Biography

The Memorial Union is grateful to Terry Reints, a descendent of Private William Albert Reints, for providing the following information.

William Albert Reints was born January 23, 1897 in Stanton Township, Plymouth County, Iowa to William W. and Emma A. (Schumann) Reints. He died November 23, 1918, and is buried at Le Mars Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa.

This is his obituary from the LeMars Daily Sentinel on November 26, 1918:

"YOUTH IS STRICKEN

Will Reints succumbs to Pneumonia in Camp, Went to Ames Three Weeks Ago, Dead, Young Man was Born and Reared in Plymouth County and Lived Here All His Life, Leaves Widowed Mother and Sister.

William Reints is another LeMars young man who has passed away in the service of his country. His service was not long but he had been anxious for a long time to do something for his country and enter military service and had asked for advancement in the draft. Only three weeks ago he was sent to Ames to enter the mechanical training corps. Three days after he arrived at Ames he was stricken with influenza which developed into pneumonia and death overtook him on Saturday. William Reints lived all his short life in Plymouth county with the exception of a few years in California. He was born in Stanton township and was twenty-one years old last January. He attended the country schools and later attended school in LeMars and Sioux City. Before going to Ames he had been engaged in farming. His death is mourned by his mother, Mrs. Emma Reints, and his only sister, Mrs. Arthur Detloff, of Elgin township, and many other relatives and friends. William Reints was an excellent young man, of dutiful habits, a loving son and brother and was well liked in a large circle of friends. His father died seven years ago in California and since that time William was the mainstay of his mother and sister and his early death is a great blow to them. The remains were brought to LeMars yesterday, accompanied by Private Arnold E. Knoernschild, of Dubuque, attached to the Third Detachment at Ames. The funeral will be held this afternoon at two o'clock from the residence of John Schumann, grandfather of the deceased, on Madison street, and the services will be conducted by Rev. Bertie Watson, of Galva, formerly rector of the Seney Methodist Church. Military honors will be accorded and the flags on the public square and public buildings are at half mast in honor of his memory." 

Terry Reints also remarked: "Sadly, from William's perspective, the war ended Nov. 11, which was 12 days before he died. The epidemic was clearing up by thanksgiving so students were cleared to travel, and the men in William's unit were being discharged with the hope they would enroll for the upcoming semester. If William had arrived in Ames just 3 days later, he might have lived to be an old man."