Robert Anweiler

A graveside service for Robert Anweiler will be held on Friday, February 5, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at the Northwest Louisiana Veteran's Cemetery in Keithville, Louisiana. Robert was the third youngest of a family of 12 born to Marie Cray and John Conrad Anweiler on May 21, 1930 in Ottawa, Illinois. Robert had a childhood that was typical of people born during the Great Depression. Robert enlisted into the United States Army in May of 1947, at the age of 17. In 1951, he became an Army Ranger, which is considered the best-trained soldiers in the world. During his 21 years of service with the Army, he fought in the Korean War with the 7th Air Borne Ranger Infantry Company-George Company of the 9th Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division and in the Vietnam War as a combat tracker with the 199th Light Infantry Division. Robert participated in the 1961Turkish coup d\'etat as a member of the 101st Air Bourne Division. He parachuted on the Russian and Turkish borders and spent 45 days maneuvering in the desert with elements of the Turkish and Greek armies as a show of force for the Turkish Government. Robert also participated in the US efforts to forestall a communist dictatorship in the Dominican Republic Civil War in 1965, as a member of the 82nd Air Borne Division. He retired from the Army in 1968 with 21 years of honorable service. After his retirement from the Army, Sgt. Anweiler continued a career of public service as a Deputy for the Sheriff\'s Department in North Carolina, where he served 10 years as Lieutenant Operation\'s Officer. After moving to Louisiana to be near his wife\'s aging parents, he went to work with the Federal Civil Service at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, where he became the Chief of Police. He received a commendation medal for his heroic apprehension and disarming of an irate patient. He retired from the VA in May of 1995 with a total of 40 years of federal civil service. Robert was presented with the Louisiana Honor Medal by Governor Bobby Jindal. On May 15, 2014 he lost his wife of 64 years, Grace Marie. He is survived by his three daughters, Connie Kilgore, Robin Rothenberger and Debra Reed; his son, Robert D. Anweiler, 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home, 3130 Arthur Ray Teague Pkwy, Bossier City, LA 71112.