Killed in the Argonne, France
Upon its arrival the body was conveyed to the home of the parents Mr. and Mrs. August Eick, in the First Ward, escorted by a military guard of honor, and there it remained until 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, when it was conveyed to St. Jacob's Lutheran church. The cortege consisted of the flag bearer, a former infantryman, flanked by two former members of the navy; the hearse, accompanied by the pall bearers and an armed guard of eight infantrymen, and followed by about thirty ex-soldiers officered by Capt. G.W. Krahn and Lieut. Wm. Kadlec. Next were cars bearing the immediate members of the family of the deceased soldier, and friends of the family, a long concourse of sympathizing citizens.
At St. Jacob's church a most impressive service was conducted by pastor, Rev. H. Srugies, whose sermon on the occasion breathed the spirit of the Christian military character and made a deep impression on all his hearers. The casket was literally obscured in the wealth of flowers, amongst the chief donors of these beautiful tributes being the McKinley Circle of the Ladies of the G.A.R. and the Ladies'Aid Society of St. Jacob's church.
At the conclusion of the services the cortege reformed and preceded to Woodlawn Cemetery, where the remains of the deceased soldier were reverently laid in their final earthy rest with appropriate religious and military services the farewell to their comrade being the military salute fired by the guard of honor.
George J. Eick was purely an Oconto Falls boy, being born and raised in this place, and as he was the first from here who lost his life in the great world war the local Post of the American Legion was named after him. We can pay no higher tribute to his character than to say that he freely went forth and offered his life in his great effort to free suffering humanity and drive autocracy and tyranny from the face of the earth. And while the whole community joins with parents and family in the loss of their son and brother, we are proud of the stalwart Americanism that impelled him to make the glorious sacrifice for his fellow beings.
Those from outside who were present at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Feavel and daughter, Ruby, of Appleton; Gustave Rusch and son, Otto, Milwaukee; Mrs. Louis Rusch and granddaughter, Miss Irenne Salchert, from Antigo.