Gordon A. Sweeney obituaries
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Articles on the Death of
Gordon Anthony Sweeney
(1916 - 1944)

Gordon was the youngest of Dennis A. and Anne E. (Coyle) Sweeney's seven children. He was married to Eileen T. McCauley less than eight months before his death. She did not remarry. Eileen's mother was Mary Veronica Wickham, the daughter of James J. and Bridget (Keating) Wickham. The circumstances surrounding Gordon's death seem to be something of a mystery (or the subject a cover-up by the army). According to his death certificate, it was not known exactly when, where or how he died. Autopsy findings indicate the cause of death was asphyxiation, probably due to drowning. Whether the death was accidental or not is listed as unknown. The death certificate states the date of death as "approximately 4 May", but it seems his family wasn't notified until the 6th.

Related Items:
A picture of Gordon's wife Eileen's family home at 507 Franklin avenue, Council Bluffs.
Gordon's death certificate.
Pictures of his and wife Eileen's gravestones.
Obituary for his grandmother Katherine (Hughes) Coyle.
Family plot of his maternal grandparents in St. Joseph's Cemetery.


Council Bluffs Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
Monday, 8 May 1944, p. 6

Cpl. Gordon Sweeney
Dies at Fort Knox
      Word was received here Saturday night [May 6] by Mrs Eileen Sweeney, 507 Franklin avenue, of the death of her husband, Cpl. Gordon Sweeney, 28, at Fort Knox, Ky. Details of his death have not yet been revealed.
      The son of Mrs. Anna Sweeney, 202 Sixteenth avenue, he had just returned to Fort Knox, after spending a short leave here. A graduate of Abraham Lincoln high school, he had been stationed at Fort Knox, since entering the service a year ago, and was formerly employed in the Union Pacific office at Omaha.
      Cpl. Sweeney was serving as a company clerk with a tank division at Fort Knox.
      Besides his wife and mother, he is survived by two brothers, John of Council Bluffs, Gerald in the navy; three sisters, Mrs. Ed Leonard of Underwood, Mrs. Claude Langdon of Council Bluffs and Florence Sweeney at home.
      The body will arrive at the Beem-Belford funeral home Tuesday evening [May 9], and will then be removed to the home of his mother where it will lie in state until the hour of the funeral.
      Funeral arrangements have not been made.


Council Bluffs Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
Tuesday, 9 May 1944, p. 5

DIES IN SERVICE

Cpl. Gordon Sweeney
...died at Fort Knox, Ky.
* * *
Sweeney Rites on Thursday
      Cpl. Gordon Sweeney died at Fort Knox, Ky., Saturday evening, according to word received here by his wife Eileen. Mrs. Sweeney, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. McCauley, 507 Franklin avenue, was notified of her husband's death but has as yet received no details as to the cause.
      The body arrived at the Beem-Belford funeral home Tuesday evening and will be removed to the home of his mother Wednesday. Mrs. Anna Sweeney, 2002 Sixteenth avenue, where it will lie in state until the hour of the funeral, Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Francis church. Requiem mass will be celebrated by Father James P. Danahey. Military rites will be conducted by Rainbow Post No. 2 of the American Legion at the grave. Interment will be in St. Joseph's cemetery.


Council Bluffs Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
Tuesday, 9 May 1944, p. 6

SEEN and HEARD
      ST. FRANCIS ALUMNI--The St. Francis Alumni association will recite the rosary for Cpl. Gordon Sweeney at the home of his mother, Mrs. Anne Sweeney, 202 Sixteenth avenue, Tuesday at 7:30 p. m.

      ST. PATRICK'S ALTAR SOCIETY--St. Patrick's Altar society will meet at 202 Sixteenth avenue Wednesday at 8 p. m. to recite the rosary for the repose of the soul of Cpl. Gordon Sweeney.

      W. C. O. F. WILL MEET--The members of the Women's Catholic Order of Foresters will meet at the home of Mrs. Anna Sweeney, 202 Sixteenth avenue on Tuesday evening at 7:30 to recite the rosary for the repose of the soul of Cpl. Gordon Sweeney.

      CHRIST CHILD SOCIETY--The Christ Child society will recite the rosary for the repose of the soul of the late Cpl. Gordon Sweeney at 8 p. m. Wednesday at the home of Mrs. Anna Sweeney, 202 Sixteenth avenue.



Council Bluffs Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
Tuesday, 9 May 1944, p. 9

Death Notices
SWEENEY, Cpl. Gordon, died at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Sunday.
Funeral St. Francis church 10 a. m. Thursday. Body will lie in state at the home of his mother 202 Sixteenth Ave. from Wed. a. m. to the time of the funeral. Beem-Belford service.


Council Bluffs Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
Sunday, 14 May 1944, p. 2

.....And Here At Home
A brief summary of home front news from The Nonpareil for clipping and mailing to Service men and women everywhere
      Rerported dead are Cpl. William Thoreen, on the Anzio beachhead, and Cpl. Gordon Sweeney at Ft. Knox. Cause of Sweeney's death is not known here . . . 2nd Lt. Chris Dinkel has been reported after a bombing mission over France April 24.

Transcribed by Erica DeCoursey
2009