William Charles Stoveken

   Cause of his death was gunshot (homicide).^{1 2}

  Research Notes:

Per Rose Duescher (Margaret Vandenberg) he was on the "Tuscany" a troop ship torpedoed by Germany - he was found alive clinging to a piece of drift wood 4 miles off the Irish coast. Found a scrap of newspaper(Based on backside picture of a tub style Maytag washer from about 1940 saying "Ship that Uncle Bill Stoveken was on is Tuscana (Note see below for update)"

From the records of the ship Tuscania

Contributed by: Steve Schwartz Renton, Washington
For more information, please visit: his homepage. (http://renton.50megs.com/Tuscania/index01.html)

Wisconsin had the majority of the 32nd Division Guardsmen. They were considered at the time to be the elite of the 32nd Division. There is a book, entitled 32nd Division in the World War. It was put together by the Wisconsin and Michigan War History Commission. It talks about the Tuscania in one paragraph, that is all. However it has an honor roll of those who died. So when the list of Survivors of the Tuscania is done, they can be cross referenced through this honor roll to see if any of them went on to Europe and met their fate there.

So far here is the incomplete list of names of the Survivors from Wisconsin.

Stoventon (Stoveken), W. C. - County: Marinette. City: Pembine.
…Army Rank - Sergeant
…Assigned Unit - 107th Supply Train, Truck Company B.
February 9, 1918 ¹

  Medical Notes:

Bill Was murdered by Gun shot by his Son Jim within 4 months of the death of Peter VandenBerg. Theresa Derenne has newspaper clippings of the court case. ^{1 2}

  Noted events in his life were:

• Alt. Birth, 1883, Niagara, Marinette, Wisconsin, USA. ¹

• Alt. Birth, 1883, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. ¹

• Military Service: (US Army, Sergeant, 107th Supply Train, Truck Company B), 09 Feb 1918. ¹
Per Rose Duescher (Margaret Vandenberg) he was on the "Tuscany" a troop ship torpedoed by Germany - he was found alive clinging to a piece of drift wood 4 miles off the Irish coast. Found a scrap of newspaper(Based on backside picture of a tub style Maytag washer from about 1940 saying "Ship that Uncle Bill Stoveken was on is Tuscana (Note see below for update)"


From the records of the ship Tuscania

Contributed by: Steve Schwartz Renton, Washington
For more information, please visit: his homepage.
Wisconsin had the majority of the 32nd Divison Guardsmen. They were considered at the time to be the elite of the 32nd Divison. There is a book, entitled 32nd Division in the World War. It was put together by the Wisconsin and Michigan War History Commision. It talks about the Tuscania in one paragraph, that is all. However it has an honor roll of those who died. So when the list of Survivors of the Tuscania is done, they can be cross referenced through this honor roll to see if any of them went on to Europe and met their fate there.

So far here is the incomplete list of names of the Survivors from Wisconsin.

Stoventon (Stoveken), W. C. - County: Marinette. City: Pembine.
…Army Rank - Sergeant
…Assigned Unit - 107th Supply Train, Truck Company B.
February 9, 1918

• Publication: The Crivitz Advocate, 03 Mar 1918, Crivitz, Marinette, Wisconsin, USA.  
LETTER FROM WM STOVEKEN
Pembine Young Man Tells How
He Was Saved From Torpedoed Tuscania
 
A letter has been received from Sergeant William Stovoken of Pembine who was on the Tuscania when the ship was torpedoed on February 5. Stovoken enlisted with Company I of Marinette but was transferred to the 107th Supply Train. His letter follows.
 
"Somewhere"
 
"I am 'torpedoed,' at least that is what a Tommie Sgt. called me this evening, for I was unlucky enough to be aboard the S. S. Tuscania when she received her death blow in the Irish sea, but by the grace of God, good fortune and the help of H. M. destroyer - (deleted by censor) I was lucky enough to land safe and sound without even wetting my feet, somewhere in the North of Ireland at 2 a. m.
 
"We've been accorded wonderful treatment, warm food and drink awaited us and and the C. O. turned his Tommies out and gave us their beds at that unearthly hour. All along they inconvenienced themselves for us and I assure you we're a grateful gang of shipwrecked Sams.
 
"The Kaiser surely handed us some pill and now I've a personal bone to pick with him, and I warrant you I'll not be satisfied until I find a good meaty one too. We were hit squarely amidships but luckily not in the engine room. I was sitting at the time on company field desk writing a "safe" arrival to Mother for I knew we'd have no time on the morrow after disembarking. 'Safe and sound' I was when a sub nailed us and over I went against the door jam almost for a goal. The Tuscania displaced almost 15,000 tons and we were making about twelve knots, but she stopped dead in her wallow, pitched and plunged violently and then, slowly but surely began her death list. I groped about in the dark and finally locating my life belt and overcoat made my way to my proper boat station. Our boat was shattered from the force of the explosion, so there was naught to do but grab another man's chance or wait for help from other sources. A heavy sea was running and neither way offered any particular safety so I stuck for two hours and twenty minutes. Things sure looked gloomy indeed then for the ship listed badly and almost to the deck in water. My bunkie and I lashed together a table and some chairs determining to risk them when she did go. About 150 of us were still still the upper deck waiting the finals when a destroyer sent small boats after us and here we are - forty-five of the original seventy, all well and tho not exactly happy, we're not at all sad for we expect more of our men tonight.
 
"We're surely a well attired gang too, some of wearing officers blouses and great coats and many of us with English O'coats. Few of us have complete American uniforms but we're all very comfortably clothed and housed.
 
"Undoubtedly this unforeseen sinking will delay getting into active service for a few weeks, but we'll soon be there and aside from the slight re-organization due to casualties - the same old company."
WILLIAM STOVOKEN

• Occupation: sales manager for car dealership, Cir 1950. ³

• Cemetery: Forest Home Cemetery, Mar 1958, Marinette, Marinette, Wisconsin, USA. ²

William married Alfretta J. Frink. (Alfretta J. Frink was born on 21 Apr 1891 in Marinette, Marinette, Wisconsin, USA ¹ and died on 28 May 1987 in Mountain, Oconto, Wisconsin, USA ¹.)