Dedication of a new headstone for Joe Heitz, WWI Veteran, purchased by VFW Post 4902 of Cottonwood, will be done on Memorial Day, May 30 at the Keuterville Cemetery during the regular Memorial Day service beginning at 11 a.m.
Heitz died on November 13, 1923.
A picture of his obituary from the Nov. 14, 1923 issue of the Lewiston Tribune is shown but does not tell the entire story.
“Mr. Heitz, who was an ex-serviceman, was brought to Lewiston by Dr. Wesley Orr of Cottonwood and was to have been taken to the government hospital at Walla Walla today. Nothing could be learned as to surviving relatives last night, nor what disposition will be made of the body.” Joe Heitz was the uncle of the late Helen Ross.
According to the obituary he was buried in Keuterville on 11/17/1923 but was never given a headstone. The members of Post 4902 have been working for a few years trying to get information to get him a military headstone but had been unsuccessful in procuring one. It was decided by the Post to purchase one themselves.
Military history: Joseph Ludwig Heitz was born on Feb. 22, 1882 in Aleppo, KS and died Nov. 13, 1923 in Lewiston.
He was a member of the US Navy, service number 001722835. His rank was unknown. He enlisted May 22, 1907 and was discharged June 24, 1919. He served on the USS Tennessee ACR-10 in 1910 and the USS Broad Arrow (No. 2503) in 1918-1919.