Nicholas August Weigel

Casualty of the Great War

Nick was born 3 March 1894 to August and Katherine Kayser Weigel at their farm in Weigelsdorf, McMillan township, Marathon County, Wisconsin. He was the oldest boy from his father’s second marriage, but had 2 older half- brothers, Phillip and Arthur.

Nick was close friends with his cousin John Weigel. They attended school together and made a trip to the western US together as young men. Both young men were very worried about the war in Europe, and so they delayed in registering for the draft. After they returned from their trip, they registered for service in WWI. The registration date on Nick’s card is January 1918. Both men were fighting in France by July of 1918.

Nick’s youngest sister Margaret said in an interview in 1992 that her father, August Weigel, was worried about sending his young son to war in Germany. August had immigrated to US in 1882 and he feared that Nick as a first generation American could be fighting against his own cousins in the old country.

Nick wrote a letter home to his parents dated 27 October 1918. In his letter, Nick wrote that he hadn’t yet had any letters from home. He wrote, “How is everybody at home? Are they all well? I hope so. I wish I was back there again. That is the only place for me. All I wish is that they would make peace soon.”  He continued, “About my job, I will tell you when I get back, that is if I ever will make it, if it is our dear Lord’s will. Pray for me….My very best love to you all, Your Loving Son Nick Weigel.”

Nick’s letter reached the Weigel family on 30 November 1918. Sadly, Nick had been killed in action almost a month earlier on November 5. The family was notified of Nick’s death by a message from the military the day before his letter reached them. Nick is buried in France in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France.

Nick also has a memorial marker in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Marshfield in his family’s plot. The bronze memorial marker was placed at the graves of his parents in the Spring of 1992. In November 1992, Nick’s sister Margaret was the recipient of his Purple Heart 74 years after he earned it.