Pvt. Robert J. Herynk

PVT Robert J. Herynk He is finally home! After almost 79 years, he is finally home! PVT Robert J. Herynk, 27, died on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1942, near the Sanananda Track in the Territory of Papua, New Guinea, during intense fighting with the Japanese, during World War II. His remains were positively identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on September 29, 2021. He was born on August 12, 1915, near Hanover, KS, to Joseph A. and Tresa Holota Herynk. He attended school in Hanover graduating in 1932. Robert entered the Army on January 5th, 1942, at Washington, KS. After basic training he joined the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He was assigned to K Company, 3rd Battalion, as a rifleman, he left for overseas duty with the rest of the division in April of 1942. His family was left to mourn him and pray that he would eventually be returned home. He preceded his family in death, including his parents, Joseph and Tresa Holota Herynk; sister, Josephine Herynk Ruhkamp; three brothers, John, and twin brothers, Charles and Francis; along with the family of his sister: her children, Sophia Ruhkamp (Edgar) Neimeier, Evelyn Ruhkamp Taylor, Mildred Ruhkamp (Gellinger) Dammann, Mary Ann Ruhkamp Lally and Wilfred Ruhkamp. He is survived by great-grand nieces and nephews: Colleen Behrens (Fred) and Michelle Wassenberg, both of Marysville, Shauna Engelken, (Robert) Seneca, KS, Terry Lally (Jayne) Fairfield, NE, Barbara Doyle (Richard) Avinger, TX, Leland Edgar (Deb) Seagoville, TX, Wayne Taylor, Wichita, KS, Marilyn Soltau (Douglas) Austin, TX, Donna Gellinger, Arkansas City, KS, Sally Rogers (Rus) Wichita, KS, and Dion Ruhkamp (Cindy), Oldtown, ID; and numerous great-great-grand and great-great-great-grand nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be members of the American Legion Post #306, Hanover, KS. PVT Robert J. Herynk will lie in state at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Graveside burial with full military honors will be held Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 2:00 p.m., at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Hanover, KS. Video of funeral for PVT Robert J. Herynk Video of PVT Robert J. Herynk arriving at Kinsley Mortuary To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Pvt. Robert J. Herynk, please visit our flower store.