John C. Warner
Born: March 20th, 1913
Died: July 9th, 1943
Obituary
John C. Warner, 30, West Burlington, one of the two men shot by a soldier in Gulfport last Feb. 21, was found dead in bed by his wife when she came home from work at the Iowa ordinance plant late Friday afternoon. Cause of death had not been determined Saturday by Coroner R.O. Giles who said a post mortem examination would be conducted. Upon the findings of the examination will depend whether an inquest will be held, Giles said. He expressed the view, however, that the wound suffered last winter did not cause Warner's death and said it was probable no inquest will be conducted. Warner was dismissed from Mercy hospital here April 13. Warner passed a physical examination only the day before his death, planning to take a job on the Alaskan highway project, Giles reported, He had been dead between four and six hours when his wife discovered the body. Leonard Hobson, 22 soldier from Camp McCoy, Wis., is now serving a one to 14 year term at the Illinois prison in Joliet for the double shooting. He was sentenced at Oquawka April 18 after pleading guilty to a chrage of assault with a deadly weapon. Louis Reeder, 38, of 1541 Lincoln street, was the second man shot by Hobson. Hobson, absent without leave from Camp McCoy, entered the Sater tavern and according to witnesses picked a quarrel with several patrons at a table. When some of them started outside, several others followed. Reeder and Warner were innocent bystanders, according to Sheriff George Vorhees of Oquawka, who conducted the investigation. A search throughout western Illinois and eastern Iowa failed to result in Hobson's apprehension, but he subsequently surrendered at his camp. Military authorities released him to Sherriff Vorhees. Warner was born in Bingham Lake, Minn., March 29, 1913. He was married to Mary Wilson, Attersan, S.D. March 27, 1937. He was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America and of the Lutheran faith. Surviving are his widow; a son, David, 5, a daughter, Gwenith 2; his mother, Mrs. Minnie Warner of Burlington; four brothers, Clair, who is in the navy; James in the army, Darrell of White Horse, Canada, and Le Moyne of this city; and by one sister, Aurel Warner of Burlington. Services will be held at Giles funeral home at 10:30 Tuesday morning. Burial will be in Aspen Grove cemetery.