Joseph Robert Bethke

Joseph Robert Bethke was born on September 4, 1892 to Robert and Agnes Bethke.

The pictures below are his church baptism certificate and confirmation certificate. He was baptized on April 2, 1893, at Stemmer’s Run in Baltimore Maryland. Wilhelm Zeiler, Evangelical Pastor.

He was confirmed Palm Sunday April 8. 1906, at the Zion’s Germ. Evangelical Church, Stemmer’s Run. Maryland, by Pastor C. F. Fleck.

Hilda’s notes refer to him as ‘Uncle Bob’.

The 1940 Census shows him living at a Veterans Administration Facility since 9/29/1932.

Robert passed away on September 18, 1979 and was buried in Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery.

Above is an excerpt from the book, Maryland in the world war, 1917-1919; military and naval service records.

Joseph and his brother Frederick served in World War I.

His military record is:

Joseph R. Bethke, age 25 years 9 months; Inducted 5/28/1918 as a Private.
9 training battalion Depot Brigade Company B 313
Infantry 6/13/1918; patient at hospital 10/13/1918; Company B 313 Infantry 1/16/1919
Honorable discharge 6/11/1919
Overseas 7/8/1918 to 5/29/1919
Avocourt Sector; Meuse-Argonne; Troyon Sector
Wounded slightly 10/13/1918