December 1941: A Month of Tragedy for the Fenex Family
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December 1941 was a month
that changed the course of history for Americans as it launched the
country into a war that would eventually claim the lives of over
400,000 Americans.1
Nearly every family in the country would be affected in some way by
the war. December 1941 was also a month that deeply affected members
of the Fenex family in difficult ways both in Wyoming and abroad.
Early in the month of
December 1941, William Lane and Sabra Fenex enjoyed a trip to
California with their daughter Grace and her husband Claud Lam.
Glenrock's local newspaper, The Glenrock Independent, reported
on 11 December 1941 in the “Local Happenings” that “Mr. and
Mrs. Wm. Fenex and Mr. and Mrs. Claud Lam returned home last week
from a vacation in California. They report a wonderful trip with
California beautiful this time of year.”2
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Image 1: “Glenrock Local
Happenings”, Glenrock Independent,
Thursday 11 December 1941.1
The
transcription reads: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Fenex and Mr. and Mrs. Claud
Lam returned home last week from a vacation in California. They
report a wonderful trip with California beautiful this time of year.
1 “Glenrock Local Happenings,” The Glenrock Independent, Thursday, 11 December, 1941, unpaginated; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne, Newspaper Archives, Converse County, Glenrock Independent, July 1939-April 1942; digital photograph of microfilm printed copy, Tiffany Wacaser, 11 October 2017, held privately by photographer, Putnam Valley, NY 10579..
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A few days earlier on 7
December 1941, Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor3
and Wake Island.4
This surprise attack thrust the United States into World War II. Of
particular concern to the Fenex family was the fate of Jack Fenex,
the son of John and Gertrude Fenex and grandson to William and Sabra
Fenex, who was working for the Morris and Knudsen construction
company on Wake Island and the fate of the civilian workers was
unknown.5
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Image
2: “Many Cody Men in War Area: One Casualty Is Reported There,”
The Cody Enterprise, Wednesday
10 December 1941, page 1, columns 6-7.1
(page 1 of 2)
Transcription
reads: “Many Cody Men in War Area: One Casualty Is Reported Dead.”
At least
one Cody boy had been killed in the war that broke over the Pacific
Sunday morning and fear is held for the well-being of nearly 50
others in the armed service and workmen on the islands of Guam, Wake
and Midway.
The
one casulty [sic]
listed here was Carl Beightol, brother of Mrs. Clarence and mrs.
Lawrence Black of Meeteetse. The young man was at Manila in the
Marine corps and words of his death was carried in a radio broadcast
Tuesday morning picked up by his sisters.
In all
Cody has more than 50 boys and men in the war theatre, a large part
of them being defense workmen with families here, on Wake and Midway
Islands and their fate is clouded by the conflicting reports
concerning those tiny islands.
Altho
figures are not available at the present time it is understood that
Park county youths are responding to the call to colors and since
Monday morning there has been a steady line of volunteers at the
Powell Selective Service office. This office, Guy Dumlavy, service
officer, ------ ------ might, has been commissioned to accept
enlistments in all branches of the service.
Altho a
complete list of Cody men in the war theatre has not been compiled as
yet (anyone having information concerning individuals whose names do
not appear is requested to pohne the Enterprise) it is known that
Ensign Southgate Freeman Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Freeman,
arrived in Pearl Harbor just a couple of days before the bombing
while his cousin, Chet , son of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Freeman, was en
route to the Philippines from Hawaii, “Butch” Waters, son of
Frank Waters (continued on page 5).
1
“Many Cody Men in War Area: One Casualty Is Reported There,”
The Cody Enterprise,
Wednesday, 10 Wednesday 1941, page 1 column 6-7, upper left and page
5 columns 5-6; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne,
Newspaper Archives, Park County, The Cody Enterprise,
1941-1942; digital photograph of microfilm of printed copy, Tiffany
Wacaser, 11 October 2017, held privately by photographer, Putnam
Valley, NY 10579.
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On Friday, 12 December
1941, William Fenex was taken to the hospital in Casper,
Wyoming.While working at his sheep camp, he was butted by a ram and
broke his hip.6
On Monday, 15 December 1941, the fracture was set and secured with
pins.7
The family expected that William would recover and be home to
celebrate Christmas.8
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Image
4: “Bill Fenex Has Hip Broken by Lamb”, Glenrock
Independent, Thursday 18
December 1941.1
Transcription
reads: “Bill Fenex Has Hip Broken by Ram”
Wm. L.
Fenex, Glenrock pioneer citizen, was taken to the Casper hospital
Friday suffering from a broken hip, the result of being butted by a
ram while working at his sheep camp.
Monday
morning, Mr. Fenex underwent an operation during which the fracture
was set and secured with pins. Latest reports state that he is
recovering nicely and will be able to spend Christmas at home with
his family.
1 “Bill Fenex Has Hip Broken by Ram,” The Glenrock
Independent, Thursday, 18
December 1941, page 1 column 3; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives,
Cheyenne, Newspaper Archives, Converse County, Glenrock
Independent, July 1939-April
1942; digital photograph of microfilm printed copy, Tiffany Wacaser,
11 October 2017, held privately by photographer, Putnam Valley, NY
10579.
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William was able to
return home to his family the day before Christmas. In the Christmas
issue of the Glenrock Independent, it was reported in the “Local
Happenings” column that Wm. Fenex will be brought home from the
Casper hospital this Wednesday.9
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Image
5: “Glenrock Local Happenings”, Glenrock Independent,
Thursday 25 December 1941.1
Transcription
reads: Mrs. Wm. Fenex was on the sick list over the week-end.
Wm.
Fenex will be brought home from the Casper hospital this Wednesday.
1 “Glenrock Local Happenings,” The Glenrock Independent,
Thursday, 25 December, 1941,
page 1, column 4; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne,
Newspaper Archives, Converse County, Glenrock
Independent, July 1939-April
1942; digital photograph of microfilm printed copy, Tiffany Wacaser,
11 October 2017, held privately by photographer, Putnam Valley, NY
10579.
|
The stress of William's
injury and subsequent surgery and prolonged hospital stay coupled
with the unknown fate of grandson Jack Fenex in the Pacific must have
paid a toll on Sabra's health as it was also reported in the
Christmas issue of the Glenrock Independent that “Mrs. Wm. Fenex
was on the sick list over the week-end.”10
Unfortunately, William
Lane Fenex died at 8 pm on 28 December 1941, from an blood clot in
his leg.11
This must have been a terrible shock to the Fenex family as it seems
that William was of generally good health and was recovering well
from his injury.
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Image
6: William Lane Fenex Jr. Obituary1
Obituary
Transcription reads: Funeral services were held here Wednesday
afternoon, for W.L. (Bill) Fenex, 76, pioneer converse county
rancher, at the Baptist Community church at 2:30 o'clock.
Rev.
Glenn G. Knight, of the Douglas Baptist church, spoke comforting
words to the bereaved family and the large number of friends who
gathered to pay their last respects to one whom they loved and
respected. The many and beautiful floral tributes gave mute evidence
of the high esteem in which Mr. Fenex was held in this community.
Music
consisted of a duet, mrs. Jack Hajny and Mrs. Carlin Smith, who sang
“The Old Rugged Cross,” “In the Garden” and “Rock of Ages”.
They were accompanied at the organ by Mrs. George Powell.
Mr.
Fenex's death was attributed to complications following a hip injury
suffered two weeks ago. At that time he incurred a broken hip when he
was butted by a ram while working at his sheep camp. He was taken to
the hospital at Casper but was able to return to his home here the
day before Christmas, apparently recovering nicely. A blood clot
formed, however, causing his death at 8 o'clock Sunday night.
William
Lane Fenex was born at Buffalo, Mo., May 6, 1865, son of William Lane
Fenex and Sara St. Clair Fenex. He came to Ft. Laramie,Wyo., in 1882,
shortly before he was 18 years of age. He returned to Buffalo, Mo.,
and married Sabra Ann Johnson in 1889They returned to Wyoming and
made their home on the old Jim Barrie place. They lived there for
seven years. The remainder of his life was spent in this community.
To this
union were born 11 children, two of whom preced him in death.
In
addition to Mrs. Fenex, he is survived by his nine children, Mrs.
Claud Lam, Floyd, Homer and Guy Fenex and Mrs. Harold Thornton, all
of Glenrock; John Fenex of Cody, Wyo.: James Fenex, superintendent of
the Continental Refinery at Lake Charles, La.; Roy Fenex of San
Diego, Calif.; and Mrs. Hugh Smyth of Chula Vista, Calif; 20
grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Mr.
Fenex was a member of the Baptist Community church, a member of the
I.O.O.F. Of Glenrock, being the last charter member of the lodge. He
was honored by being presented with a 50-year Jewel and a Life
Membership to this organization. He was also a member of the Masonic
Lodge No. 22 of Glenrock and was a Past Master of this order. He was
also a 32nd
degree Mason and a Shriner. Both the Masons and Oddfellows attended
the funeral services in a body.
Mr.
Fenex had been quite active in politics, serving Glenrock as mayor
for a number of years. He was also a former county commissioner and
had been a deputy sheriff.
Pallbearers
were six sons, Jim, John, Floyd, Roy, Homer, and Guy.
Internment
was made in the Glenrock cemetery under the direction of Kennaugh and
Hoffmann.
1 “Services Held on Wednesday
for W.L. Fenex,” The Glenrock Independent, Thursday,
1 January 1942, page 1, column 4; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives,
Cheyenne, Newspaper Archives, Converse County, Glenrock
Independent, July 1939-April
1942; digital photograph of microfilm printed copy, Tiffany Wacaser,
11 October 2017, held privately by photographer, Putnam Valley, NY
10579.
|
Funeral services were
held on Wednesday 31 December 1941 at the Baptist Community Church
where his six sons Jim, John, Floyd, Roy, Homer and Guy were the
pallbearers.12
William was an important member of the Glenrock community. News about
his life often warranted placement on the front page of the local
newspaper. Not only was he a pioneer but he also was very involved in
local organizations and politics, having served as a mayor, county
commissioner, and deputy sheriff.
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Image
7: William Lane Fenex Death Certificate1
1 Wyoming Department of Health, file no. 1941, William Lane Fenex
(1941); Bureau of Vital Statistics, Cheyenne; copy, Wyoming
State Archives, Cheyenne, digital photograph of printed copy,
Tiffany Wacaser, 11 October 2017, held privately by photographer,
Putnam Valley, NY 10579.
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William Lane Fenex Jr.
was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His wife, children,
and grandchildren surely felt the loss deeply. While grieving for his
loss, they would have also been deeply concerned about the fate of
Jack Fenex on besieged Wake Island and concerned with the coming war.
The war would affect the children and grandchildren of William and
Sabra Fenex; some of their grandsons would fight overseas as would
some of the husbands of their granddaughters. At least one
granddaughter would enlist and serve in the WAC. Surviving these
losses and keeping strong for the future would have required great
fortitude and strength.
1
Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties#Human_losses_by_country:
accessed 6 October 2017), “World War II Casualties.”
2
“Glenrock Local Happenings,” The Glenrock Independent,
Thursday, 11 December, 1941,
unpaginated; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne, Newspaper
Archives, Converse County, Glenrock Independent,
July 1939-April 1942.
3
Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor:
accessed 2 October 2017), “Attack
on Pearl Harbor.”
4
Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_Island#Battle_of_Wake_Island:
accessed 2 October 2017), “Battle of Wake Island.”
5
“Many Cody Men in War Area: One Casualty Is Reported There,”
The Cody Enterprise,
Wednesday, 10 Wednesday 1941, page 1 column 6-7, upper left and page
5 columns 5-6; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne,
Newspaper Archives, Park County, The Cody Enterprise,
1941-1942.
6
“Bill Fenex Has Hip Broken by Ram,” The Glenrock
Independent, Thursday, 18
December 1941, page 1 column 3; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives,
Cheyenne, Newspaper Archives, Converse County, Glenrock
Independent, July 1939-April
1942.
7
“Bill Fenex Has Hip Broken by Ram,” The Glenrock
Independent, Thursday, 18
December 1941, pg. 1, col. 3.
8
“Bill Fenex Has Hip Broken by Ram,” The Glenrock
Independent, Thursday, 18
December 1941, pg. 1 col. 3.
9
“Glenrock Local Happenings,” The Glenrock Independent,
Thursday, 25 December, 1941,
page 1, column 4; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne,
Newspaper Archives, Converse County, Glenrock
Independent, July 1939-April
1942.
10
“Glenrock Local Happenings,” The Glenrock Independent,
Thursday, 25 December, 1941,
pg. 1, col. 4.
11
“Services Held on Wednesday
for W.L. Fenex,” The Glenrock Independent, Thursday,
1 January 1942, page 1, column 4; microfilm, Wyoming State Archives,
Cheyenne, Newspaper Archives, Converse County, Glenrock
Independent, July 1939-April
1942.
12
“Services Held on Wednesday for W.L. Fenex,” The
Glenrock Independent, Thursday,
1 January 1942, pg. 1, col. 4.
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