Erwin Kottlowski was born on Monday, 13 October 1919 at the family farm in Hancock County Indiana 3.5 miles from the small town of New Palestine.
He was the fourth child and second son of Charles and Caroline Kottlowski. He was the first child to be born at the family farm (purchased in 1917). He attended Zion Lutheran School through the 8th grade. He was confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the early 1930s. He graduated from New Palestine High School in 1937. After High School, he attended Purdue University's agricultural short course and continued to work on the family farm.
In February 1941, he was drafted into the United States' Army where he served until his discharge in June of 1945. He trained at Ft. Benning, Georgia and served in the European theater during World War 2 with the 2nd Armored Division, participating in three amphibious assaults: North Africa, Sicily and Normandy. He received the Soldier's medal in July of 1944 for life-saving while his LST was sinking during the Normandy landings.
After the war, he returned to New Palestine and farmed with his father and younger brother, Donald. At his father's death in 1953, he purchased the family farm from his father's estate. In 1954, he married Marlis Jean Krug. They were blessed with five children: Nathan, Sarah, Brian, Martin and Amy. He also worked as a custodian and later a school bus mechanic at the Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County (New Palestine). He was active at Zion Lutheran Church his entire life, where he was baptized, married and buried.
He died on 28 August 1994 surrounded by his family, in the same room in which he was born nearly 75 years previously . He is buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.
He was the fourth child and second son of Charles and Caroline Kottlowski. He was the first child to be born at the family farm (purchased in 1917). He attended Zion Lutheran School through the 8th grade. He was confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the early 1930s. He graduated from New Palestine High School in 1937. After High School, he attended Purdue University's agricultural short course and continued to work on the family farm.
In February 1941, he was drafted into the United States' Army where he served until his discharge in June of 1945. He trained at Ft. Benning, Georgia and served in the European theater during World War 2 with the 2nd Armored Division, participating in three amphibious assaults: North Africa, Sicily and Normandy. He received the Soldier's medal in July of 1944 for life-saving while his LST was sinking during the Normandy landings.
After the war, he returned to New Palestine and farmed with his father and younger brother, Donald. At his father's death in 1953, he purchased the family farm from his father's estate. In 1954, he married Marlis Jean Krug. They were blessed with five children: Nathan, Sarah, Brian, Martin and Amy. He also worked as a custodian and later a school bus mechanic at the Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County (New Palestine). He was active at Zion Lutheran Church his entire life, where he was baptized, married and buried.
He died on 28 August 1994 surrounded by his family, in the same room in which he was born nearly 75 years previously . He is buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.
Erwin Kottlowski was born on Monday, 13 October 1919 at the family farm in Hancock County Indiana 3.5 miles from the small town of New Palestine.
He was the fourth child and second son of Charles and Caroline Kottlowski. He was the first child to be born at the family farm (purchased in 1917). He attended Zion Lutheran School through the 8th grade. He was confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the early 1930s. He graduated from New Palestine High School in 1937. After High School, he attended Purdue University's agricultural short course and continued to work on the family farm.
In February 1941, he was drafted into the United States' Army where he served until his discharge in June of 1945. He trained at Ft. Benning, Georgia and served in the European theater during World War 2 with the 2nd Armored Division, participating in three amphibious assaults: North Africa, Sicily and Normandy. He received the Soldier's medal in July of 1944 for life-saving while his LST was sinking during the Normandy landings.
After the war, he returned to New Palestine and farmed with his father and younger brother, Donald. At his father's death in 1953, he purchased the family farm from his father's estate. In 1954, he married Marlis Jean Krug. They were blessed with five children: Nathan, Sarah, Brian, Martin and Amy. He also worked as a custodian and later a school bus mechanic at the Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County (New Palestine). He was active at Zion Lutheran Church his entire life, where he was baptized, married and buried.
He died on 28 August 1994 surrounded by his family, in the same room in which he was born nearly 75 years previously . He is buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.
He was the fourth child and second son of Charles and Caroline Kottlowski. He was the first child to be born at the family farm (purchased in 1917). He attended Zion Lutheran School through the 8th grade. He was confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the early 1930s. He graduated from New Palestine High School in 1937. After High School, he attended Purdue University's agricultural short course and continued to work on the family farm.
In February 1941, he was drafted into the United States' Army where he served until his discharge in June of 1945. He trained at Ft. Benning, Georgia and served in the European theater during World War 2 with the 2nd Armored Division, participating in three amphibious assaults: North Africa, Sicily and Normandy. He received the Soldier's medal in July of 1944 for life-saving while his LST was sinking during the Normandy landings.
After the war, he returned to New Palestine and farmed with his father and younger brother, Donald. At his father's death in 1953, he purchased the family farm from his father's estate. In 1954, he married Marlis Jean Krug. They were blessed with five children: Nathan, Sarah, Brian, Martin and Amy. He also worked as a custodian and later a school bus mechanic at the Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County (New Palestine). He was active at Zion Lutheran Church his entire life, where he was baptized, married and buried.
He died on 28 August 1994 surrounded by his family, in the same room in which he was born nearly 75 years previously . He is buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.
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