Carl Wayne Gray Genealogies

Sullens, Herman Elmer

Sullens, Herman Elmer

Male 1915 - 2007  (92 years)


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  • Name Sullens, Herman Elmer 
    Newspaper clipping, Herman Sullens, World War II
    Newspaper clipping, Herman Sullens, World War II
    Herman Elmer Sullens (1915-2007)
    Herman Elmer Sullens (1915-2007)


    One Man Band


    Contributed by Doris (Mayo) Bissey

    Evelyn and Herman Sullens
    Evelyn and Herman Sullens


    Displayed with permission of Lady in Black


    Birth 27 Feb 1915  Clay City, Clay County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Gender Male 
    Census
    1950 United States Federal Census, Clay City, Illinois, District 13-3, Sheet 15


    Clay City township: Clay City village: Clay City village - That part east of Rd. 5


    Occupation Truck Driver, Night Watchman, Farmer  [1
    Reference Number SULL.H001 
    _FGRAVE 23444595 
    Funeral 11 Dec 2007 (92 years)  Summers-Kistler Funeral Home, Flora, Clay County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, United States
    Military Service World War II, Sergeant, Company F, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th ‘Blue and Gray’ Infantry Division, United States Army  [2, 7
    • Entered active service as a draftee on January 26, 1944 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Selected for the Infantry, completed basic training, and qualified in the military occupational specialty of Rifleman (MOS 745). Departed the Continental U.S. on August 17, 1944 bound for the European Theater of Operations. Assigned to and fought with Company F, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th 'Blue And Gray' Infantry Division, in the Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns. Reported missing in action for several days, but returned to his unit. Honorably discharged as a Sergeant on October 21, 1945 at the Separation Center, Fort Sheridan. Earned the Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze battle stars, and the WWII Victory Medal.

      This information has been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website by Robert Medley Gatewood. It is entered here with his permission.

      Source: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=2279046
    Brochure, World War II Memorial, Flora, Illinois, Nov 11, 2007

    On Veterans' Day, 2005, the city of Flora, Illinois dedicated a memorial to all known Clay County, Illinois World War II Veterans.

    Located on the south side of the city library, this is a copy of the brochure honoring that event.

    This 2007 brochure adds a matrix for locating the memorial brick that was laid in honor of each veteran. …
    Herman Elmer Sullens (1915-2007)
    Herman Elmer Sullens (1915-2007)
    World War II Honoree, Sullens, Herman Elmer (1915-2007)
    World War II Honoree, Sullens, Herman Elmer (1915-2007)
    115th Infantry Regiment, United States Army
    115th Infantry Regiment, United States Army
    Herman Elmer Sullens (1915 - 2007)
    Herman Elmer Sullens (1915 - 2007)
    29th Infantry Division ('Blue and Gray'), United States Army
    29th Infantry Division ("Blue and Gray"), United States Army
    Military Service Ribbons, Sullens, Herman Elmer (1915-2007)
    Military Service Ribbons, Sullens, Herman Elmer (1915-2007)


    Contributed by Carl Wayne Gray

    Combat Infantryman Badge, United States Army
    29th Infantry Division ('Blue and Gray'), United States Army
    29th Infantry Division ("Blue and Gray"), United States Army
    European Theater of World War II
    Combat Infantryman Badge, United States Army
    European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, United States
    European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, United States
    Fort Sheridan, Illinois
    Good Conduct Medal, United States Army
    Good Conduct Medal, United States Armed Forces
    Sergeant, United States Army and United States Army Air Fores


    (Sep 1942-Aug 1948)


    NOTE: The three stripe Sergeant Insignia was not used during the Korean War

    United States Army
    World War II Victory Medal, United States Military
    United States Army Enlisted Rank Insignia
    United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959)

    In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959,…
    World War II
    (1939-1945)
    World War II Victory Medal, United States Military
    Death 8 Dec 2007  Clay County Hospital, Flora, Clay County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Burial 11 Dec 2007  Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    • Lot 7 - 2 Add - Row 10
    Headstone, Sullens, Evelyn and Herman
    Headstone, Sullens, Evelyn and Herman


    Displayed with permission of Lady in Black


    Headstone, Sullens, H. E.
    Headstone, Sullens, H. E.


    Displayed with permission of Lady in Black


    Headstone, Sullens, Evelyn and Herman
    Headstone, Sullens, Evelyn and Herman
    Person ID I2410  Carl Wayne Gray Research | Bricker - Shock

    Conrad Bricker and Lucinda Shock Descendants, Sullens - Dunagan

    John Benjamin Sullens and Mary Jane 'Polly' Dunagan Descendants
    Last Modified 10 Jun 2023 

    Father Sullens, John Roland,   b. 25 Jun 1895, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Nov 1941 (Age 46 years) 
    Mother Cailteux, Sophie Caroline,   b. 21 Dec 1897, Clifton, Iroquois County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Mar 2005, Flora Healthcare Center, Flora, Clay County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 107 years) 
    Marriage 23 Aug 1914  Sailor Springs, Clay County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 9, 10, 11
    Family ID F1736  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Bricker, Evelyn Gladys,   b. 14 Oct 1919, Clay County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Dec 2006, Richland County Memorial Hospital, Olney, Richland County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years) 
    Marriage Y  [4, 6
    Children 
    +1. Sullens, N.
    +2. Sullens, B.J.
     3. Sullens, John Robert,   b. 26 Jul 1942   d. 2 Nov 1968 (Age 26 years)
    +4. Sullens, D.D.
    +5. Sullens, T.E.T.
    +6. Sullens, D.
    Family ID F804  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 27 Feb 1915 - Clay City, Clay County, Illinois Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 8 Dec 2007 - Clay County Hospital, Flora, Clay County, Illinois Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsFuneral - 11 Dec 2007 - Summers-Kistler Funeral Home, Flora, Clay County, Illinois Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 11 Dec 2007 - Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Documents
    Double Funeral Yesterday For Mother and Daughter, Car-Tractor Accident Victims.
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  • Notes 
    • Herman Elmer Sullens, age 92, of Clay City, died at 8:05 p.m., Saturday, December 8, 2007, at Clay County Hospital.

      He was born February 27, 1915, in Clay City, the son of John and Sophia (Cailteux) Sullens. He married Evelyn Bricker on September 25, 1937. She preceded him in death on January 29, 2006.

      He owned a trucking business and hauled the Clay City basketball team to Ingraham in 1936 for $2.70. He hauled eggs and wire to the Clay City store and once pulled a bread truck out of the mud for fifty cents. He was also night watchman at the Big Four plant until he started a painting company painting oil field tanks until he retired. Several of his grandchildren helped him in that business.

      He was a World War II veteran and was reported missing in action for several days. He received the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Medal, three Bronze Stars, two Overseas Service Bars, Good Conduct Medal, and Victory Medal.

      He was discharged from the service and rode a greyhound bus to Clay City and had to walk to his home with his duffle bag on his back--very thankful to be home safe. He always gave God the praise for keeping him safe.

      He started a one-man band in 1968 and enjoyed going to nursing homes and playing his music. He was a family man who looked forward to each new day, and enjoyed working in his garden with his fruit trees.

      He was a member of the Clay City Community Baptist Church.

      Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Norma and Delbert Payne of Sailor Springs, and Betty and Ira Simmons of Clay City; three sons and daughters-in-law, Donald and Shirley Sullens of Lakeview, Florida, Tom and Myrna Sullens of Carthage, Texas, and David and Cathy Sullens of Kilgore, Texas; 17 grandchildren, Dean Payne of Sumner, Linda Norris of Sailor Springs, Albert Payne of Sailor Springs, Brenda Lynn of Clay City, Donna Stanley of Clay City, Wendell Simmons of Clay City, Diane Gill of Clay City, Steve Sullens of Florida, Rusty Sullens of Florida, Barbara Brance of Indiana, Rebecca Brown of Florida, John Sullens of Texas, Keith Sullens of Texas, Christiana Pritchett of Texas, James Sullens of Clay City, Dawn Epps of Texas, and Michael Sullens of Texas; one cousin, Leone Taylor, one sister-in-law, Lois of California; 37 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, one niece, and two nephews.

      He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one son, John, one sister Geneva, and two brothers, John and Merlin.

      Funeral services were held today (Tuesday, December 11) at Summers-Kistler Funeral Home in Clay City with Brother Jimmy Thomas officiating. Burial, with full military honors performed by the Clay City veterans organizations, was in the Clay City Cemetery.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1582] http://www.findagrave.com, Obituary, Sullens, Herman Elmer, 92, (http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSsr=2281&GScid=105163&GRid=23444595&), none. (Reliability: 2).

    2. [S1583] https://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Sullens, H. E., (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23444595/herman-elmer-sullens), none. (Reliability: 2).

    3. [S837] https://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Sullens, Evelyn and Herman, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18083481/evelyn-gladys-sullens), none. (Reliability: 2).

    4. [S171] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, Clay City, Illinois, (District 13-4) (Township), image 25, page 13a, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2442/M-T0627-00769-00087?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.as) (Reliability: 3).

    5. [S365] Ancestry.com, 1930; Census Place: Stanford Township (District 18), Clay County, Illinois, (http://www.ancestry.com), Page 9a, none. (Reliability: 2).

    6. [S15274] 1950 United States Federal Census, Clay City, Illinois, District 13-3, Sheet 15 (Reliability: 3).

    7. [S14729] World War II Honoree, Herman Elmer Sullens, (https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=2279046) (Reliability: 2).

    8. [S1370] http://www.findagrave.com, Obituary, Wilfong, Forest Earl, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26914567/forest-earl-wilfong), none. (Reliability: 2).

    9. [S2971] http://www.findagrave.com, Obituary, Wilfong, Sophia Caroline, 107, (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Cailteux&GSiman=1&GScid=105163&GRid=18083532&), none. (Reliability: 2).

    10. [S2969] https://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Sullens, Sophia C. and John R., (hhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24145903/john-roland-sullens), none. (Reliability: 2).

    11. [S2970] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, Stanford Township, Clay County, Illinois, (District 13-20), image 05, page 2b, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2442/M-T0627-00769-00480?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.as) (Reliability: 2).