Funeral, visitation for fallen Davenport soldier scheduled

Font Size:

By Ann McGlynn | Tuesday, May 8, 2007 11:25 AM CDT | () comments

The funeral for Pfc. Katie Soenksen, the 19-year-old Davenport woman who died May 2 in Iraq, will be Thursday at her family’s church, Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport.

Visitation will be Wednesday in the auditorium at Davenport North High School, from which she graduated in 2005.

As her family prepares for the services, they have been overwhelmed by the support received from people both known and unknown to them, Soenksen’s mother, Mary Ann Soenksen, said Monday.

“I never fathomed it,” Soenksen said as she finished one of the photo boards that will be on display. “It’s such a tough time. And we greatly appreciate it.”

Soenksen’s remains are expected back in the Quad-Cities today, her mother said. They will be escorted by an aunt who is a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force.

Also today, her daughter’s platoon will hold a memorial service in the fallen soldier’s honor, Soenksen said.

Katie Soenksen’s cousin, who also is serving in Iraq, is trying to get to the service to deliver a message from Mary Ann Soenksen: “If there is any way possible, I would like to be over there and give them all a hug.”

Details about her daughter’s death also are emerging, including the story of an Iraqi interpreter who lost his life trying to save hers, Mary Ann Soenksen said.

Soenksen was a member of the 410th Military Police Company, based at Fort Hood, Texas. She enlisted in the Army after her graduation from high school in 2005. The Army sent her to Iraq last summer.

She is the 52nd Iowan to die in Iraq and the third woman. She was killed when a roadside bomb exploded in west Baghdad.

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.

Funeral details

The funeral for Pfc. Katie Soenksen will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 4105 N. Division St., Davenport. Burial will be in National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, with full military honors. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium at Davenport North High School, 626 W. 53rd St.

Funeral for another Iowa soldier scheduled

ALTA, Iowa — Funeral services for a northern Iowa soldier killed in Iraq are scheduled Wednesday.

Pfc. Brian Botello, 19, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded April 29 in Baghdad.

Services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta. Burial will be Friday at the Fayetteville (Ark.) National Cemetery, according to Barker Funeral Home in Alta.

Botello graduated from Alta High School in 2005. He joined the Army in July of that year and was deployed to Iraq in November 2006.

He was a member of the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based in Fort Carson, Colo. Two other soldiers from the unit also died in the roadside bomb explosion.

— The Associated Press