Collins, Sarah

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7700

Sarah married Lefevre, William Bef 1890. William was born 24 Jan 1865; died 8 Aug 1949. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7700

Netttie married DesJardins, John Bef 1922. John was born 22 May 1895; died 11 Aug 1969; was buried , Fort Howard Memorial Park Cemetery, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7700
• Military Service: Bef 12 Sep 1944; WWII
• Obituary: Aft 12 Sep 1944

Notes:

Obituary:
Excerpt from an article about Earl and his brother James. Both James and Earl Des Jardins were in high school in Green Bay when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Like millions of Americans, they joined the military, each becoming a pilot - Earl in bombers, James in fighters. The older brother saw action first, writing to James in July 1944 to tell him not to hurry over to Europe but giving him advice on what to bring, such as a rubber air mattress and a small ax to pound tent stakes.
Two months after Earl Des Jardins sent the letter with the opening words "Combat is rough and don't let anyone tell you different," his B-24 was shot down in France, killing everyone on board. He was 22. Then James was lost Nov. 25. Three days after Christmas the second Western Union telegram delivered to the Des Jardins' Green Bay home reported James as missing in action.
Earl's bomber was found a couple of decades ago, and John Des Jardins and his father traveled to France for dedication of a memorial at the crash site. Earl's remains were buried in a mass grave with the rest of his 10-member B-24 crew in Kentucky. A memorial plaque was placed at the Green Bay cemetery. But James' whereabouts were a mystery until last year.
By Meg Jones of the Journal Sentinel Oct 14, 2012
Read complete article at http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/a-welcome-home-for-green-bay-wwii-fighter-pilot-e677jkf-174120281.html

Died:
Died in WWII

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7700
• Military Service: Bef 25 Nov 1944; WWII
• Obituary: 14 Oct 2012; Milwaukee Journal

Notes:

Obituary:
Green Bay - Under smoke-gray skies and a persistent downpour Sunday afternoon, James Des Jardins returned home.
A week after James Des Jardins celebrated his 21st birthday, his P-51 Mustang crashed into Germany's countryside. The pilot and his plane would lay undisturbed for decades until recent dredging uncovered the wreckage.
The discovery, and subsequent identification, allowed the Des Jardins family to make his final resting place in his hometown near the memorial marker for his older brother, Earl, who died two months before James in a B-24 crash in Europe.
Two sons. Two Western Union telegrams. One heartbroken family.
Like thousands of other American families who would hang gold star banners in their picture windows, the Des Jardins family lost two young men with bright futures ahead of them. The youngest son, Arnold, was not called to military service in World War II because the Des Jardins family had sacrificed enough.
Arnold's son, John Des Jardins, grew up hungering for information about his uncles, eventually hanging memorial displays of their pictures, medals and Army Air Corps patches in his Outagamie County Circuit Courtroom. John Des Jardins, a circuit court judge since 1994 who lives in Appleton, was shocked to learn last year that his uncle James' plane had been found in a field near Einhausen, a small community near the Rhine River.
He wanted to honor his uncle's sacrifice and celebrate his brief life.
"We want this to be an uplifting patriotic event," John Des Jardins said before flying to Pearl Harbor last week to return his uncle's remains to Wisconsin. "All of his friends are gone now. It's not a time for great sadness; it's a time for respect and thanking him and his generation who did so much for the rights and privileges we take for granted."
Both James and Earl Des Jardins were in high school in Green Bay when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Like millions of Americans, they joined the military, each becoming a pilot - Earl in bombers, James in fighters. The older brother saw action first, writing to James in July 1944 to tell him not to hurry over to Europe but giving him advice on what to bring, such as a rubber air mattress and a small ax to pound tent stakes.
Two months after Earl Des Jardins sent the letter with the opening words "Combat is rough and don't let anyone tell you different," his B-24 was shot down in France, killing everyone on board. He was 22. Then James was lost Nov. 25. Three days after Christmas the second Western Union telegram delivered to the Des Jardins' Green Bay home reported James as missing in action.
Earl's bomber was found a couple of decades ago, and John Des Jardins and his father traveled to France for dedication of a memorial at the crash site. Earl's remains were buried in a mass grave with the rest of his 10-member B-24 crew in Kentucky. A memorial plaque was placed at the Green Bay cemetery. But James' whereabouts were a mystery until last year.
Though thousands of American troops remain missing on distant battlefields, once remains are found the U.S. military goes to great lengths to identify and return them to families, no matter how many years have elapsed. Using DNA from John Des Jardins, the military recently confirmed the remains found with the P-51 in Germany were, indeed, James Des Jardins.
And so on Sunday, dozens of family members, friends, well-wishers and veterans - including men who fought in the war that claimed James and Earl Des Jardins - gathered in a funeral home within sight of Lambeau Field to pay their respects to an American hero. James Des Jardins' dress uniform jacket and brown leather bomber jacket were displayed on either side of a small white casket. Bulletin boards were adorned with small black and white photos of a smiling James Des Jardins wearing his high school graduation cap and gown and grinning from the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang.
A scheduled flyover Sunday of a P-51 and two World War II-era T-6 trainers in the missing man formation over Lambeau Field was scrubbed because of bad weather. Tony Buechler volunteered to fly his P-51 to honor the memory of pilots like James Des Jardins who flew the same plane though under much different conditions.
"It takes some special training to fly that type of airplane and stay alive in it," Buechler said in a phone interview last week. "Remember these kids in World War II were 19 years old, they took them from never flying anything to flying a P-51 in just 50 hours of training."
In a short funeral service, John Des Jardins paraphrased the Gettysburg Address: . . . from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.
"Those words ring true today," John Des Jardins said.
James Des Jardins' remains were driven to Fort Howard Memorial Park in Green Bay in a procession that included a 1942 military truck and a 1945 jeep driven by Jeff Rowsam and Gil Snyder, members of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association and sons of World War II veterans who dressed in period uniforms.
In a cemetery brightened by trees turned orange and yellow, mourners unfurled umbrellas and listened to the steady drum of raindrops on the green canopy covering James Des Jardins' final resting place. Before they listened to a firing squad fire three volleys and Staff Sgt. Tyler Terrell play "Taps" on his bugle, they listened to Pastor Douglas Moorhead of Spring Lake Church recite Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
"I know in America many soldiers lived and breathed those words," Moorhead said.
Then an honor guard folded an American flag and presented it to James Des Jardins' nephew, with thanks from a grateful nation.
A Welcome Home for Green Bay WWII Fighter Pilot
From the 14 Oct 2012 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Died:
Died in WWII

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7700
• Obituary: 8 Aug 2011; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
Arnold Des Jardins, 86, Estero, Fla., and Green Bay, died Saturday evening, Aug. 6, 2011, at a local hospital following a two-week illness. He was born on July 27, 1925, in Green Bay, to the late John and Nettie (Le Fevre) Des Jardins. Arnold was always proud of his Belgian heritage, and proud that his father played for the original Green Bay Packers team in 1919, earning just $16 for the entire season! On July 21, 1946, he married the former Charlotte Davis in Green Bay.
He was employed by Fort Howard Paper Co. for 42 years before retiring in 1991. Arnold loved to work. He had many interests and was particularly handy with the family farm which he later developed. He maintained a beautiful yard and did everything he could on his own. He loved all animals and that love was curiously reciprocated by every animal in his presence. Arnold read the Wall Street Journal and Barron's every day and was a savvy investor. He and Charlotte enjoyed many wonderful years together, and spent their retirement years between their homes in Estero, Fla., Green Bay and Fish Creek.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Charlotte; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff and Darlene Des Jardins, Green Bay; and John and Linda Des Jardins, Appleton; one daughter and son-in-law, Marcia and Chuck Crisp, Hobart; six grandchildren, Paul (Kristin) Des Jardins, Jacqueline, Michelle and Tara Des Jardins, Elizabeth (Jeremy) Jackson and Charlie (Valerie) Crisp; one brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, Dr. Larry and Kay Davis, Redlands, Calif.; and Marilyn Davis, Scottsdale, Ariz.; nieces, nephews, including a special nephew, Ted Daul, other relatives and friends, including his bocce buddies and their wives in Florida, and his golfing buddy, Jim Carrick.
In addition to his parents, Arnold was preceded in death by two brothers, Lt. James Des Jardins and Lt. Earl Des Jardins, both of whom were pilots and died during World War II. Earl was honored by the French government as a war hero. He was killed on his 30th mission flying over France. Arnold was privileged to attend a memorial honoring Earl in 1991. Recently, the plane wreckage of James and his remains were discovered in Germany and his return for a military funeral is pending DNA analysis. Arnold was also preceded in death by beloved and faithful canine companion, Doogie.
Visitation will take place after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, at Lyndahl Funeral Home, where funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. with the Rev. Doug Moorhead officiating. Interment in Fort Howard Memorial Park. Online condolences may be expressed at www.lyndahl.com.
Arnold's family would like to thank Drs. Sinclair and Atta-Finn, as well as the nursing and pastoral staffs of St. Mary's Hospital for the exceptional care and comfort that they provided.
Lyndahl Funeral Home
And Cremation Services
1350 Lombardi Avenue
(920) 499-1223
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent from August 8 to August 9, 2011