Widow Upset After WWII Vet’s Ashes Stolen from Home

Clayton County, Georgia – Here’s an unfortunate situation regarding Berliner Mary Kehler Daniel, courtesy of WSB-TV in Atlanta:

Mary Kehler Daniel says thieves stole her late husband's ashes
Mary Kehler Daniel says thieves stole her late husband’s ashes

The widow of a World War II Veteran says thieves broke two doors and ransacked her Forsest Park home.

Mary Kehler Daniel told Channel 2’s Tom Regan the thieves took money, jewelry and the cremated remains of her late husband Dewey, a World War II veteran.

Daniel said she’s heartbroken.

“I just screamed out to my daughter, ‘Oh God, they’ve taken his ashes. Who would do that?’” Daniel said.

Daniel put the cardboard box containing her husband’s remains inside a leather clad box following his death in 1998.

She’s made arrangements that, following her death, her ashes would be combined with her husband’s and laid in a final resting place. That final wish for the couple, married for 46 years, may never be carried out.

“I’m just beside myself. How am I going to get them back you know?” Daniel said.

Daniel said she has no idea why someone would want to steal her husband’s ashes, but her daughter speculated the thieves may have foolishly thought the remains were some kind of drug.

“I had an idea that was the reason why, but if they’d open the box, they would have known it wasn’t,” Millie Barnhouse said. “I just have this kind of paranoia; I don’t want to be seeing them dumped in a trash can.”

As her daughter helps repair the damaged doors, Daniel said she hopes whoever stole the ashes will have a change of heart and return them.

“It’s just very painful,” Daniel said.

Daniel said the last time she was burglarized was back in 1980, but she doesn’t have a clue why someone would target her home. Anyone with information is urged to call the police.

 

One thought on “Widow Upset After WWII Vet’s Ashes Stolen from Home”

  1. Cousin Mary, I am so sorry this act of disrespect has been done to you. My prayer is that they took it thinking it was some other “substance”, and that they would be convicted to return these beloved remains to you immediately.
    This has been the case here in Calgary, and thankfully they did get returned.

    Blessings of Peace to You!

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