DIES IN FRANCE — Pfc. Werner Clarence Tiarks, 21, son of Herman Tiarks of Almond, serving with a paratroop division, was killed in action in France June 7, the day after the Invasion, according to a war department message. Stevens Point Daily Journal 09 August 1944

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Memorial Services

Memorial services will be held Sunday for Private First Class Clarence Tiarks, son of Herman Tiarks | who was killed in action on June 7 in France. The service will be held 9:30 o’clock at St, John's Lutheran Church at Almond. Rev. E. Wendling will officiate.
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Stevens Point Daily Journal 25 August 1944
 

Tiarks Services Sunday
The remains of the late Pfc. Werner Clarence Tiarks, veteran of World war II, will arrive at Almond on Friday evening.
   Private services at the Hardell funeral home will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Public military committal rites will follow in the Lutheran cemetery, east of Almond village.
    A memorial service for the late World war veteran was held last year. The young man is survived by his father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Tiarks of Almond, and several brothers and sisters.
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Stevens Point Daily Journal 05 May 1948

Services for Private Tiarks
Military honors were accorded by the American Legion at the Almond Lutheran cemetery on Sunday afternoon when Pfc. Werner C. Tiarks was buried. The body was brought to New York a few weeks ago and arrived at Almond Friday evening, accompanied by a military escort. Sergeant Fanell. Pallbearers were Raymond Boelter,
Plainfield, Hugo Carpenter. Stevens Point, Allen Hilgendorft, Wautoma, Clifford Johnson and William Lemke, classmates and friends of the young man. Private Tiarks, a paratrooper during World war II was a son of Herman Tiarks of Almond.
Members of the family who came for the private service and burial included: Mrs. Arthur Hilgendorf of Donovan, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Tiarks and Victor Tiarks of Beaverville, Ill.; Mrs. Ernest Frounfelker, Jeanette and Clarence of Waukegan, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Onnie Frandy of Bessemer, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Woodward. Lorine, James, Alice and Elaine Woodward of Arpin; Walter Tiarks, Raymond Tiarks, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Tiarks, Robert and Gretchen {surname omitted]; Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Tiarks, David and Janis, and Maynard Hilgendorf, all of Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Christ Luhn and Mary of Winneconne.
Rev. E. Wendling, pastor of St. John's Lutheran church, was the officiant.
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Stevens Point Daily Journal 11 May 1948  

BODIES OF FOUR
COUNTY HEROES
BACK IN U. S.
All Lost Lives in France; Transports Reach New York

Among 111 Wisconsin World II victims aboard two army transports scheduled to dock at a New York harbor today are the bodies of four Portage county men.
The local men are Pfc Orville B. Clark, son of Orville A. Clark of the town of Buena Vista; Cpl Bernard J. Szymkowiak, husband of Mrs. Leona Szymkowiak, 541 Water Street, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Szymkowiak, 937 Franklin street; Pvt. Exra P. Roe, son of Mrs. Belma Roe, New Hope, and Pfc Werner C.
Tiarks, son of Herman Tiarks of Almond.

5,342 Brought Back
The two transports, carrying 5,342 American victims of the European area are the Robert F. Burns and the John L. McCarley. On the Burns. carrying 2,723, of which 56 are from the Wisconsin area the bodies of Private Clark and Corporal Szymkowiak from a military cemetery at Epinal, France. Aboard the McCarley are 2,819, including 43 Wisconsin men. The remains of Privates Roe and Tiarks are on the latter vessel, having been removed from a military cemetery at Blosville, France.
Virtually all the remains aboard the McCarley are being returned from the “D-Day" military cemeteries at Saint-Laurent-sur-mer, Blosville and LaCambe, Normandy. Those aboard the Burns are from later-established cemeteries at Henri Chapelle, Belgium, and Varola and Epinal, France.

Killed in Action
Private Clark was killed in action in France on Nov, 13, 1944. He was 21 at the time of his death.

The soldier, who was inducted 'into service in November 1943, was with an infantry unit of the Seventh army, going overseas in September. 1944.  He was a truck driver for the Arnott Creamery company at the time of his Induction. His mother died on April 25, 1947.
   Corporal Szymkowiak was seriously wounded la action in France on Nov. 26, 1944, and died on Nov.. 28. at -the age of 27.  An infantry-man, the corporal entered service in February 1942.  He went  overseas on Feb. 22, 1943, and took part battles in North Africa, Sicily. the Anzio beachhead and France. His wife is former .Leona. Buza of the town of Amherst, Before; entering service he was employed by Lullabye Furniture corporation.
   Private Roe was killed In action in France on July 26. 1944, with an Infantry unit. He had been In service« two years, having gone overseas two months before his death. He was 27 years old.
First Reported Missing
    Private Tiarks was listed as killed while in action in France on June 7, 1944. His father had received a message previously stating that his son was mussing. The soldier, 21, was the youngest son In a family of 11.  Four of his brothers were in-service. He entered service in November. 1942.
   Corporal Szymkowiak will be buried in the National cemetery at Rock Island, Ill., after arrival In Chicago. The body of Private Clark will b« brought to Stevens Point and burial will take place following its arrival, in the Buena Vista cemetery. Disposition of the remains of Privates Roe and Tiarks bas not been learned.
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Stevens Point Daily Journal 30 March 1948

(photos courtesy of Salvarsan)

Grave markers for Pfc Werner C. Tiarks at the South end of Row 5 in the St Johns Cemetery, Almond. Wisconsin.  He is buried along with his parents with Herman and Sophia as well as his brother Lawrence.

Pfc Tiarks, a member of Company E, was killed in action on June 6, 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart.