Surnames: Jost, Mielke, Nelson, Vandeberg, Eckes, Mandel, Bate, Nelson

----Source: Racine Journal - Times; Thursday, 12 Feb 1953

State Airman Killed In Motorcycle Crash

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — _ A body washed ashore near here Monday was identified Wednesday as that of Airman Second Class James G. Jost, of Pinecastle Air Force Base at Orlando.

PIA Base sources said Jost was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Matt Jacob Jost of Rib Lake, Wis.

An abandoned motorcycle reported on a Volousia Beach 20 miles north of Titusville, FL last Thursday was investigated by Brevard County officials and identified as Jost's. Deputy Sheriff C. W. Bate of Titusville said it was believed the young airman had been tossed from his vehicle while driving on the beach and that he then drowned. The motorcycle had been wrecked.

----Source: Oshkosh Daily Northwestern February 12, 1953

Former Neenah Sailor Drowns

NEENAH — Information was received here Wednesday of the drowning of James G. Jost, 28, formerly of Neenah, Wisconsin who has been serving with the Army at the Pine Castle Air Force Base, Orlando, Fla.' Details were not available. He was born July 5, 1924 in Canada, and attended the Neenah public schools and Oshkosh and Stevens Point State Colleges. He served in the Navy Air Corps in World War II. and enlisted in the Army Air Corps two years ago. Surviving arc his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Matthias Jost, Rib Lake; four brothers: a twin brother. Boyd, Neenah: Joseph, of Fond du Lac: Leon of Unity; and Matthias, Oshkosh: and three sisters: Mrs. Gust Mielke. Elmira; and Mrs. John Nelson, and Mrs. Harold VandeBerg, both of 'Neenah. The body is to be brought to the Kessler Funeral Home. Arrangements for the service have not been completed.

----Source: Marathon County Register (Unity, Clark County, Wis.) 20 Feb 1953

Jost, James (5 July 1924 - 1 Feb. 1953)

Leon Jost returned to Unity, Wisconsin Monday evening after attending the funeral of his brother, James, at the St. Mary Margaret Catholic Church in Neenah, Wisconsin Monday morning. Burial was in the Neenah cemetery.

James Jost, 29, was a veteran of World War II and after being discharged from service he returned to Unity where his parents lived. He returned to school and graduated from Unity High School after which he attended Central State Teachers College in Stevens Point one year and Oshkosh Normal two years. He then enlisted in the Air Corps and was stationed at the air base at Orlando, Florida.

A2C James Jost had a week end leave January 31st and February 1st and when he did not report at the base February 2nd he was listed as AWOL. His wrecked motorcycle was found on the Titusville Beach and on February 9th his body was washed ashore some distance from there. An examination disclosed that death was caused by drowning and that he had evidently been thrown into the water while still alive.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Jost of Rib Lake; three sisters, Mrs. Gust Mielke, Lomira, Wis.; Mrs. Jack Nelson and Mrs. Harold Vandeberg, Neenah; and four brothers, Leon, Unity; Joseph, Fond du Lac; and twin brothers, Lloyd and Boyd at Oshkosh.

Others from Unity who attended the funeral were Mrs. Bernard Eckes and Miss Juliane Mandel.

The body was accompanied to Neenah by an Airforce Sgt. and was given a military burial.

Family Notes

James G. Jost was born 5 Jul 1924 and died 1 Feb 1953 and is buried in the St. Margaret's Cemetery, Neenah, Wisconsin.

1940 Federal Census, Sherman Town, Clark, Wisconsin, United States, enumeration district number: 10-34, family 154, line 72

James Jost, white, single, male
residence in 1935: Rural, Winnebago, Wisconsin

Household Members
head Mathias Jost M 54 Wisconsin, farmer
wife Josephine Jost F 51 Minnesota
son Joseph Jost M 19 Canada
daughter Eunice Jost F 17 Canada
son James Jost M 15 Canada
son Leon Jost M 14 Canada
son Lloyd Jost M 10 Wisconsin
son Boyd Jost M 10 Wisconsin