River Forest in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

World War I Honor Roll

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. World War I Honor Roll Marker

Inscription. Honor Roll

This tree
dedicated by the Citizens Patriotic
League & Womens' Auxiliary of the
85th District in memory of the
boys who made the supreme
sacrifice in the World War
1914 ☆ ☆ 1918

Harold H. Ahlborg • Alfred Allinson • Herbert Binkley • Harold C. Brusch • Willam Burrows • Walter Capps • John A. Carroll • Peter J. Cavanaugh • Harry P. Deiss • Edward Fallon • Herbert Gorden • Richard Gray • Frank E. Griffin • William Walter Hayden • John J. Hurst • Walter E. Johnston • Roger Kennedy • William E. Lahmare • Raymond Long • Joseph Marckx • Conrod Malzahan • Lawrence Mulhren • Harold Michaelson • James Leonard Nelson • Norman C. Nelson • H.N. Powell • George Roberts • Leslie Ruhnke • Dennis L. Ryan • M.J. Sherlock • James P. Smith • James M. Stanton • Knute Stromme • George C. Tatge • Robert S. Simpson • Elsmor Stevens • Stanley Walstead • Jan Zankowski

Dedicated Nov. 13, 1921

Erected 1921 by Citizens Patriotic League and Women's Auxiliary of the 85th District.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, World I.

Location. 41° 53.598′ N,

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87° 49.557′ W. Memorial is in River Forest, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from the intersection of Thatcher Avenue and Chicago Avenue. The marker can be accessed by foot on the grounds of the Trailside Museum of Natural History. It is a few yards to the immediate east of the museum building, not far from the Thatcher Avenue entrance. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 738 Thatcher Avenue, River Forest IL 60305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Waller Gates (approx. 0.4 miles away); Frances E. Willard (approx. half a mile away); Ten Mile Freedom House (approx. half a mile away); River Forest Fire Chiefs (approx.

World War I Honor Roll Marker and Trailside Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 1, 2023

2. World War I Honor Roll Marker and Trailside Museum

The trailside museum, operated by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, was opened in 1932 inside an Italianate 1876 mansion. The marker is flat on the stone in the foreground. It is not clear whether the tree referenced on the tablet is still standing.

half a mile away); River Forest Police Chiefs (approx. half a mile away); River Forest Village Presidents (approx. half a mile away); The Historic Maywood Home for Soldiers' Widows (approx. half a mile away); River Forest Firsts (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in River Forest.

Regarding World War I Honor Roll. Walter E. Capps is the only person on this tablet who is also named on the Peace Triumphant monument in Oak Park's Scoville Park, which is dedicated to World War I veterans from Oak Park and River Forest. He is also named on a Gold Star Men of the World War marker in Oak Park's Longfellow Park, which says that he was a member of the 6th Marines.

Walter Eugene Capps was 22 years old in 1918 and was a private with the 82nd Company of the 6th Marine Regiment. He owned a dry goods business with his brother George, and his parents lived at 700 South Humphrey in Oak Park, about 4 miles southeast of this Honor Roll tablet. According to multiple newspaper accounts from July 1918, Walter was injured in battle on June 5, 1918. However, the Oak Leaves newspaper in Oak Park reported in late October

Leslie Ruhnke (1896-1918) image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Chicago History Museum

3. Leslie Ruhnke (1896-1918)

Pvt. Leslie Ruhnke, who is named on this plaque, died in action on June 8, 1918. He is buried in Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France. Government records say that he was a member of the 6th Marines, 2nd Division. According to a newspaper article about his death, Ruhnke's mother lived at 4427 West Congress in Chicago, which is about 5 miles east of this memorial. This photo is preserved by the Chicago History Museum as part of a collection of photographs of local men who died in World War I.

1918, the Capps family had not been able to ascertain Walter's whereabouts, despite many attempts through the military and charity groups, since the date of his wounding. Finally, in late December, his family learned that he had died from wounds sustained in Belleau Woods and was buried in Boulogne, France. In August 1921, Capps's body was returned to the United States--on the same ship he had traveled on when heading to war--and services were held at St. Barnabas Church in Chicago. He is buried in Chicago's Graceland Cemetery.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on May 16, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.