Retired Army
Officer Dies

Wilson D. Doerr, 27, 2016 Green street, a retired officer of this war and one of the original members of Company K, died at 11 a.m. yesterday at the Hines, Ill., Veterans Hospital.
   Mr. Doerr, who was a first lieutenant in the army until eight months ago, was hospitalized with leukemia in England a week before the Normandy invasion, and was later sent home to the Percy Jones hospital at Battle Creek, Mich., and then to the Hines hospital.  He had been at home for two weeks and then returned to the hospital only a week before his death.
   He left Rockford in March, 1941, as a sergeant of Company K, later transferring to the 508th paratroop battalion, and received his commission at the officers training school at Fort Benning, Ga.  He was sent to England in December, 1943.
   A resident of Rockford all his life, he was born on June 8, 1918, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George P. Doerr.  He graduated from the Central high school, and four years ago he married the former Irene Rockwell.
   Surviving are his widow; a son Phillip, three years old; three brothers, Capt. Jean Doerr in the army in the Philippines, Sgt George Doerr in Germany, and Paul Doerr in Rockford; two sisters, Mrs.. Earl Snyder. Rockford, and Kathleen Doerr, at home, and several nieces and nephews.
   Services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the McAllister-Julian-Poorman Funeral home, 304 North 5th street.  Rev. Edwin C. Beversdorf, pastor of the Redeemer Lutheran Church, will officiate, and burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.
   Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.

[Morning Star, Rockford, IL, Friday, Jul 20, 1945, Page: 13]

Local Boy on
   Missing Plane

Illness Incurred in War
Fatal to Wilson Doerr

   One Rockford soldier has succumbed to leukemia in a hospital in the states and another, a sailor, is reported missing in a plane believed to have crashed in the Atlantic, off the coast of Miami, Fla., it has been learned here.
   Wilson D. Doerr, 27, former lieutenant in the army and original member of Company K, died at 11 a., yesterday at the Hines, Illinois Veterans Hospital.
    Maurice Dwight Randerson, 19, navy radioman, son of Mr. and Mrs.. M. E. Randerson, Auburn street road, has been missing since yesterday when the Navy plane he was aboard failed to return when scheduled.
Became Ill a Year Ago
   In the army until eight months ago, Doerr became ill with leukemia while in England a week before the Normandy invasion.  He was returned to the states and hospitalized at Percy Jones and the Hines.  Doerr came home to Rockford two weeks ago and was returned to the hospital a week before his death.
   Born in Rockford June 8, 1918, Doerr, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George P. Doerr, was a graduate of Central high school.  He entered the army in March, 1941, was commissioned at Fort Benning, Ga., and went overseas in December, 1943.
      Survivors include his widow; a son Phillip, 3; parents; three brothers, Capt. Jean Doerr, Philippines, Sgt George Doerr, Germany, Paul Doerr and two sisters, Mrs.. Earl Snyder and Kathleen Doerr, all of Rockford.
    Friends may call at the funeral home tonight from 7 to 9 o'clock.
Search for Plane Futile
   The plane on which Randerson was aboard carried a crew of four officers and 11 enlisted men.  it left on its mission Monday midnight, a stormy night, and was to have retuned Tuesday before noon.  Every effort was made to find the missing plane, according to the navy telegram received by Randerson's parents.
   Randerson, a 1943 Winnebago high school graduate, was active in sports, music clubs and 4-H group while a student.  Of his three brothers, Everett, Bruce and Ralph, the latter is in service as a lieutenant in Hawaii.

[Register-Republic, Rockford, IL. Friday, Jul 20, 1945, Page 9]

Grave marker for Wilson D. Doerr in Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford (Winnebago county), Illinois.

Wilson married Irene Rockwell in Dubuque, Iowa on  1 June 1940.
  Less than a year later he enlisted in the Army at Rockford, IL on 5 March 1941.

2/Lt Doerr was transferred from the 8th Infantry to Company G, 508th PIR on 2 November 1942.

On 6 January, 1943, Lt. Doerr was appointed 3rd Platoon Leader and as the Supply Officer, in addition to his other duties.

He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 1 February 1943. 

On 16 May 1944, Lieutenant Doerr was sent to the 184th General Hospital, Mansfield, England.

On 26 May 1944, he was relieved of his assignment to Company G and transferred, while noted as already being in hospital, to Service Company.

On 10 June 1944 he was reassigned to the detachment of patients at the 184th General Hospital and did not return to the regiment.