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Donald A. “Don” Ekern

Home...BiographiesDonald A. “Don” Ekern

Donald A. "Don" Ekern

This Dec. 7, 1950, The Lowell Tribune was found on page 2, column 1:

    ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT

    Mr. and Mrs. John Borger of Lowell are announcing the engagement of their daughter, Arlene to Donald Ekern of Shelby.

    Miss Borger is a graduate of Lowell high school. Her fiancé, who attended Mt. Ayr high school, was inducted in the U.S. Armed Forces last Friday and is stationed at Ft. Breckenridge, Ky.

    Wedding plans are indefinite.

Another article from the same issue of the paper (page 3, column 6) added the following:

    Donald Ekern of Shelby, who was inducted into the army last Friday, is stationed at Ft. Breckenridge, Ky.
The following February 15, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 8, column 1:

    PVT. DON EKERN ASSIGNED TO MEDICAL TRAINING CENTER

    Pvt. Donald A. Ekern, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Ekern, Shelby, was recently assigned to the Medical Replacement Training Center, a unit of Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. At Medical Replacement Training Center, commanded by Col. Howard S. McConkie, the army's basic training school for medical service enlisted men, the soldier learns the fundamentals of medical support of patients in hospitals and troops in the field.
This April 19, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 3, column 3:
    Pvt. Don Ekern, who has been stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is enjoying a sixteen day furlough, after which he will report to Fort Lawton, Washington, for further duty. Miss Arlene Borger of Lowell and Pvt. Ekern will be united in marriage on Friday evening, April 20, in a formal wedding ceremony at the Evangelical Reform church in Crown Point. Miss Borger, a graduate of Lowell high school, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Borger of Lowell. Pvt. Ekern, who attended Mt. Ayr high school, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Ekern of Shelby.
This April 26, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 3, column 4:

    DON EKERN ON FURLOUGH

    Pvt. Don Ekern, son of Mr. and Mrs.Adolph Ekern of Shelby, is on furlough from duty at Fort Lawton, Washington. Don claimed Miss Arlene Borger as his bride in formal rites Friday evening at the Evangelical Reform church in Crown Point.

Another article on page 4, column 1, of the same issue of the paper added this information:

    BORGER - EKERN UNITED IN FORMAL CEREMONY

    Potted palms and lighted tapers formed the background for the formal wedding ceremony which united in marriage Miss Arlene Borger and Pvt. Don Ekern on Friday evening. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Borger of Lowell, and Pvt. Ekern is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Ekern of Shelby.

    Rev. Umbeck performed the double ring ceremony which was held in the Evangelical Reform church in Crown Point. The young bride, given in marriage by her father, was preceded to the altar by her maid of honor, Miss Delores Ekern of Shelby. Miss Ekern, sister of the groom, was attired in a gown of yellow organdy with matching headpiece. She carried a nosegay of carnations and tulips.

    The bride chose for her wedding a gown of white satin, designed with a Peter Pan collar and a long train. A tiara of white violets held in place the bride's fingertip veil. Her only jewelry was a pearl choker, and her bouquet was formed of white snapdragons.

    Guests at the church were ushered by Paul and Jerry Seegers, and Orville Borger served the groom as best man.

    Soloist for the occasion was Elmer Lottes, who sang, "I Love You Truly," preceding the ceremony and "Because" immediately following the marriage vows.

    A reception for one hundred guests was held in the home of the bride's parents, following the wedding. The new young matron is a graduate of Lowell high school and is employed at Amidei's variety store. The groom, who is now on furlough, will report soon for further duty at Fort Lawton, Washington. Pvt. Ekern attended Mt. Ayr high school.

This May 3, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found page 10, column 2:

    PVT. AND MRS. DON EKERN

    The couple were united in marriage at formal rites performed by Rev. Umbeck in the Evangelical and Reformed church in Crown Point on April 20th. Upon their return from a short honeymoon, Pvt. Ekern reported for duty at Fort Lawton, Washington, and Mrs. Ekern, the former Miss Arlene Borger, returned to her work at Amidei's store.
from The Lowell Tribune, July 5, 1951, page 2, column 2:
    Cpl. "Sparky" Hall and Pvt. Don Ekern of Shelby, spent a day together in Pusan, Korea, recently. The boys enjoyed talking over all the good times spent together when they were home and especially when they were both playing ball together. Cpl. Hall expects to be home sometime in August.
This November 29, 1951, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 2:

    Promotion Honors D.A. Ekern

    Mrs. Donald A. Ekern, the former Arlene Borger, received word last week that her husband had been promoted to the rank of corporal. Don, who is a supply clerk revealed that shipments of winter clothing for all G.I.'s had been received. Don has been in Korea with the Graves Registration Co. since June 16th. He will be very pleased to hear from Lowell friends. Address: Cpl. Donald A. Ekern US55060637, 293rd QM, Gr. Reg. Co., APO 301, c/o PM, San Francisco, Calif.
The following August 7, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    Cpl. Donald A. Ekern of Lowell was among the 64 Indiana men who arrived last Friday in Seattle, Wash., with rotation troops returning from the Far East.
Last updated on August 11, 2005.

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