Kenneth Doernenburg. Image courtesy: WAOW TV.
ANTIGO, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — Nearly 80 years after he died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, a Navy Fireman was given a proper funeral and burial in Antigo.
Kenneth E. Doernenburg was stationed on the USS Oklahoma on December 7th, 1941. He died during the attack on that fateful day, and until recently his remains had been buried in a cemetery on the Hawaiian Islands for those that hadn’t been identified.
His extended family was notified that the military may have identified his remains but they needed a DNA sample to verify. That was provided by Mark Doernenburg, his great-nephew, who says his wife encouraged him to donate.
Doernenburg was 23 at the time of his death. During Saturday’s ceremony, he was given a full active-duty service including an escort by police, Patriot Guard Riders, and members of the American Legion. Family members say they were surprised by the amount of community support at the service.
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