December 26, 2024

Col. Cleon Gentzkow, MD

Last week’s blog post highlighted wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery, specifically at the grave of Col. Cleon Gentzkow, MD (1891-1961).

Today, we’ll look at the life of this fascinating man.¹

Cleon’s Youth

Three sons were born to the union of Clara Schneider and William Gentzkow. Their first son, christened Julius Joseph, but officially named Cleon Joseph, was born on New Year’s Day 1891.² The following year, another son, William, was born; he did not survive infancy and was buried in the church cemetery in 1893.³ A third son completed their family; Phillip Oscar (known as Lloyd) was born March 17, 1894.⁴

Clara, Cleon, Lloyd and William Gentzkow⁵

According to his first cousin, Katherine (Heaser) Wischow, Cleon was baptized and brought up in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Minneiska, Minnesota.⁶

Cleon’s Education

Growing up in Minneiska, Cleon likely attended local schools. He was the ninth grandchild of Sophia and George Gentzkow, but he was the first American Gentzkow to attend college.

From 1905 to 1909 Cleon attended the Winona Normal School, a college devoted to teacher education. While at the Normal School, he was president of the Junior and the Senior Classes, as well as president of the Drama League.⁷ On June 4, 1909, he graduated from the Advanced Academic-Professional Course.⁸ After graduation, he taught the Fall and Winter terms of public school in Gilbert, on Minnesota’s Iron Range.

Medical School

Cleon’s academic aspirations were much higher than a small teacher’s college. He went to medical school at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In 1915, he graduated with distinction as a member of the Phi Chi medical fraternity. As the valedictorian of the Medical School, Cleon received the Ordronaux Prize. He also earned the Frances R. Hagner Prize for the best examination in genito-urinary surgery.⁹

Cleon completed his residency at Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, DC, 1915-1917.

Washington (DC) Herald, November 9, 1915, page 2

Cleon Gentzkow, MD, 1915¹⁰

British Civil Surgeon

February 2, 1917, the British Consulate notified Cleon that he had been selected to serve as a temporary Civil Surgeon in Military Hospitals in the United Kingdom. In his passport application, he stated that he would be sailing on March 10, 1917 from the port of New York, bound for England to do “hospital work.”¹¹

Cleon Gentzkow, MD, passport photo, March 1917

U.S. Army

Perhaps after completing his temporary assignment in Britain, Cleon felt called to serve his county. By this time, the United States was no longer neutral regarding the Great War (World War I). Cleon was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant, Medical Section, Operational Response Command, July 10, 1917. Ten days later, he was called to active duty.

Lt. Cleon Gentzkow, MD, 1917¹²

By September 1917, Cleon was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, outside Indianapolis. He likely met his future wife, Marguerite Hampton during his time in Indiana.

During the Great War, Cleon was a surgeon for the 5th Ammunition Train., 5th Division American Expeditionary Forces in France, and for the Army of Occupation in Luxembourg, 1918-1919.

Capt. Gentzkow promoted, Indianapolis (IN) Star, April 15, 1919, page 12

After the war, he was the chief of laboratory service at the Base Hospital Pontenezon in Brest, France, 1919. Before leaving Europe, he also served at the Station Hospital and the 3rd Army Laboratory in Coblenz Germany, 1919-1921.

Maj. Gentzkow promoted, Indianapolis (IN) News, June 10, 1920, page 7

Stateside Army Service

Upon returning to the United States, Cleon served at Station Hospital of Camp Green, Illinois in 1921. From 1921-1924, he was the commanding officer of the 5th Corps Area Laboratory at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and also in Columbus, Ohio.

Beginning late in 1924, Cleon served at the Chief of Laboratory Services at Fort Sam Houston (8th Corps Area Laboratory).¹³

Maj. Cleon Gentzkow transferred to student duty
Daily Press (Newport News VA), August 3, 1727, page 7

PhD in Biology and Public Health

Again, Cleon added to his academic credentials. From 1927-1929, he studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1929, he earned a PhD in Biology and Public Health.

Army Career

From 1929-1931, Cleon practiced at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

In 1932, he became the Chief of the Chemistry and Physics Division of the Army Medical School in Washington, D.C.

With James Simmons, he co-edited the Laboratory Methods of the United States Army in 1935,

Cleon served a tour of duty in the Panama Canal Zone as a member of the Army Medical Research Board, between 1936-1939. During this tour, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

Lt. Col. Gentzkow promoted, El Paso (TX) Times, August 2, 1937, page 8

Upon his return to Washington, Cleon was reinstated as the Chief of the Chemistry and Physics Division of the Army Medical School. In 1942, Cleon directed the School’s Department of Preventative Medicine and Clinical Pathology.

For four years, Cleon was the commanding officer of Deshon General Hospital in Butler, Pennsylvania (1942-1946).During this time, he collaborated, again, with James Simmons to edit the Army’s 5th edition laboratory methods textbook.

Cleon progressed through the grades to the rank of Colonel, Army of the United States in 1942. One year later, he was promoted again to Colonel, Regular Army.

His last assignment was as commanding officer of Valley Forge General Hospital from 1946-1948.

He retired from active duty in 1948.

Col. Cleon Gentzkow, MD, retires
Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, July 19, 1948, page 10

After Retirement

Cleon retired from military service, but he remained active in the medical community. He was the Director of the Bureau of Laboratories for the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 1949 to 1960.

Once more, Cleon co-edited and contributed to the Army’s laboratory procedure textbook, now retitled: Medical and Public Health Laboratory Methods (1954).

From 1954 to 1956, he served as the president of the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors.

Cleon Gentzkow holds onto his cousin Katherine Heaser (Wischow), 1917¹⁴
Cleon’s parents are just behind his left and right shoulders
Cleon’s brother, nephew, and sister-in-law are on his far left

SOURCES

1
The basis of this writing is from Descendants of George Edward von Gentzkow of Minneiska, Minnesota. (Blees, 2000, pages 93-95). The primary source of information for that biographical sketch was Who Was Who in America with World Notables, 1985-1989, Vol. IX. Marquis Who’s Who: Chicago, IL, 1989. page 132. Available online at: https://archive.org/details/whowaswhoinameri09peri/page/132/mode/2up?view=theater. Accessed 23 December 2024. This 2024 writing expands on my previously-published work.
2
Wabasha County MN Birth Register Book B, page 114, line 4 (January 1, 1891), County Clerk’s Office, Wabasha, Minnesota. The original name on the register is Julius Joseph Gentzkow. Julius is crossed out and replaced with Cleon.
3
William Gentzkow tombstone, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Minneiska Township (Section 33), Wabasha County, Minnesota, photographed by Karrie Blees, May 1996. Wabasha County has neither a birth nor a death record on file for him. St. Mary’s church records (including baptism and burial) begin in the early 1900s.
4
Lloyd Phillip Gentzkow entry, Wabasha County Birth Book B, page 176, (registered 7 Nov 1919), County Clerk’s Office, Wabasha, Minnesota. Phillip Oscar (Lloyd) Gentzkow entry, Delayed Registration of Birth, (filed 7 April 1942, Wabasha District Court certification 14 May 1942) County Clerk’s Office, Wabasha, Minnesota.
5
Rissler Studio, Winona, MN. William Gentzkow family portrait, date unknown. Original was owned by Katherine (Heaser) Wischow (1910-2007) and given to Karrie Blees. Karrie Blees gave it to John W. Gentzkow, Jr. (1941-2019) in June of 2000.
6
Interview Katherine (Heaser) Wischow (1910-2007) and Karrie Blees, Minneiska MN, May 8, 1996.
7
General Alumni Catalogue of George Washington University, 1916. page 148 Medical School 1915-1916, Cleon J. Gentzkow. https://archive.org/stream/generalalumnicat01geor/generalalumnicat01geor_djvu.txt. accessed 24 Dec 2024.
8
“Graduates from Normal School…” Winona (MN) Daily Republican Herald, June 1, 1909, page 4. Advanced Academic-Professional Course graduates include Cleon J. Gentzkow, Minneiska. The Normal School had 144 graduates in 1909. There were 5 graduates in Cleon’s class. Graduation exercises were to be held on June 4, 1909.
9
“211 Graduates get G.W.U. Diplomas.” Evening Star (Washington, DC) June 10, 1915, page 17.
10
Cleon Gentzkow portrait, 1915. Original owned by Katherine (Heaser) Wischow (1910-2007), Minneiska, Minnesota. Photographic copy made by author, May 1996.
11
“United States, Passport Applications, 1795-1925”, , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJP-S5SQ : Thu Mar 07 16:19:21 UTC 2024), Entry for Cleon Joseph Gentzkow, 1917.
12
Lt. Cleon Gentzkow portrait. Original owned by Katherine Heaser Wischow (1910-2007). Karrie Blees made a photographic copy, 1997.
13
Winona (MN) Daily Republican Herald, November 8, 1924, “Major and Mrs. Cleon J. Gentzkow departed for San Antonio, Tex., Friday morning where the Major expects to report for duty November the twenty first. They are making the entire trip by automobile and will make a short stay at Goodhue to visit his brother Lloyd Gentzkow and family.”
14
Family on the farm photograph. Original belonged to Katherine (Heaser) Wischow. Karrie Blees made a photographic copy, 1997.

Author: Karrie Blees

Filed Under: Gentzkow