Hometown Heroes
Private 1st Class Leo W. Loiselle, U.S. Army (1918-1944)
The Battle of Metz was a three-month battle (Sep-Oct-Nov 1944) fought between the United States Army and the German Army during WWII. It took place at the city of Metz (in the Alsace Lorraine region of France) following the Allied breakout after the Normandy landings. The city was heavily defended by the Germans, and casualties were heavy for both sides. The heavily fortified city of Metz, part of the vaunted Maginot Line, was captured by U.S. forces by November 22nd 1944, but sadly, Private Leo Loiselle would not live to see this hard won victory. He was killed in action on Nov. 21, 1944 during the assault on an underground tunnel complex at Metz which resulted in the capture of a German General – Heinrich Kittel, the commander of the Wehrmacht’s 462nd Infantry Division.
Private 1st Class Leo Loiselle was assigned to Company K, 377th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division nicknamed "The Iron Men of Metz". He enlisted on Jan. 27, 1944. He was sent to the ETO in August 1944. Four months later he was KIA during the Battle of Metz on Nov. 21, 1944 in the Alsace Lorraine region of France. He was 26 years old. He was born in North Grosvenordale CT on Feb. 19, 1918, the son of William Loiselle and Flora Hamel. He left behind a wife – Mary Gaucher. He is buried at St Mary’s. The following articles were written about him in the local newspapers:
Windham County Observer, December 13, 1944: Pfc. Leo Loiselle, 26, Killed In Action: According to a war department telegram received by his wife, the former Theresa Gaucher of Church Street, Pfc. Leo Loiselle, 26, was killed in action in France on November 21. He entered the service last February and has been overseas since August. A native of North Grosvenordale, the soldier attended Tourtellotte Memorial High School and was employed at the Pratt Whitney Aircraft Corporation in Willimantic. Besides his wife he leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Loiselle of North Grosvenordale and a sister, Rita, also of North Grosvenordale.
Windham County Observer, January 03, 1945: Military Mass Sung For Pfc. Leo Loiselle: A military solemn high mass was celebrated Saturday morning at 9 o’clock in St. Mary’s Church for Pfc. Leo W. Loiselle, who was killed in action in France, Nov. 21. The usual American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars delegations added to the solemnity of the ceremony.
Windham County Observer, August 25, 1948: Leo Loiselle’s Body Arrives In New York: The body of Private First Class Leo W. Loiselle is one of those of 5864 Americans, including 76 from Connecticut, who lost their lives during World War II and have been returned to this country aboard the Army Transport Lawrence Victory, the Army announced Saturday. They arrived at the New York Port of Embarkation. Pfc. Loiselle was the husband of Mrs. Theresa (Gaucher) Loiselle of Church Street. Included also in the list of returning war dead is Private Thomas V. Ryan of Grosvenordale. Sylvia F. Ryan is listed as next of kin.
Windham County Observer, September 15, 1948: Military Rites Held For World War 2 Hero: Full military honors were accorded Private First Class Leo Loiselle, husband of Mrs. Theresa (Gaucher) Loiselle of this city, at a funeral service held Friday morning in St. Mary’s Church. The Rt. Rev. Monsignor John C. Mathieu, pastor of the church, was celebrant of the Mass; the Rev. Bertrand Parent, a former Army chaplain, was deacon, and the Rev. Theodore P. Gubala was sub-deacon. Bearers were Ovila Lapierre, Bernard Beausoleil, Gerard Hamel. Alfred Racicot, Napoleon Laroche and Harvey Hebert. Funeral arrangements were made by members of the Albert J. Breault Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The post Commander, Joseph Lefevre, presented a copy of the Veterans of Foreign Wars publication. “How Sleep the Brave” to Pfc. Loiselle’s widow.
Pfc. Loiselle’s body was returned to this country for burial from an overseas cemetery. It arrived Wednesday night at the Putnam Railroad Station and was borne to the A. Gilman Funeral Home where it lay in state. Private First Class Loiselle was killed in action in Metz, Germany on November 21, 1944. The son of Mr. and Mrs. William Loiselle of North Grosvenordale, Mr. Loiselle, married Miss Theresa Gaucher of this city in April 1941. Prior to his induction at Fort Devens MA, Mr. Loiselle was employed by Pratt & Whitney. Following basic training at Indiantown Gap PA, Pfc Loiselle went overseas, landing first in England, then going into France and later to Germany. He served with the 95th Infantry Division. Besides his parents and his wife, he leaves a sister, Miss Rita Loiselle of North Grosvenordale.
Hometown Heroes books can be purchased online at: https://hometown-heroes-of-the-quiet-corner.myshopify.com/ - all proceeds benefit the local American Legion Post. Hometown Heroes is a series published in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger with this mission: We owe it to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to make sure that they are never forgotten, and that the memory of their service and sacrifice will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the grateful people of Putnam.
Academy celebrates spring Sports Awards Night
The Woodstock Academy Spring Sports Awards Night featured student-athletes receiving coaches awards as well as recognition for their ECC Sportsmanship and Scholar-Athlete and All-State and All-Star awards.
Those who received coaches awards included: Boys Volleyball: Gavin Hecker, Brayden Bottone; JV: Mitchell Mazzucco; Boys’ Lacrosse: Logan Rumrill, Corey Lafond, JV: Hunter LaChappelle; Girls’ Lacrosse: Anna Hernandez, Bree Antaya, JV: Addison Anthony; Boys’ Track: Thatcher Paterson, Eli Manning, JV: Dawson Pinter; Girls’ Track: Lily Morgis, Emma Weitknecht, JV: Claire Bruneaux; Girls’ Tennis: Catherine Trudeau, Sofia Aguilar Del Olmo, JV: Rania Almashharawi; Boys’ Tennis: Ryan Chabot, Jackson Hayden; Unified Bananaball: Joe Person, Arthur Dziengeleski; Softball: Ella Brytkowski, Caroline Ethier, JV: Erika Yeliguo; Baseball: Matt Dearborn, Drew Bundy, JV: Liam Bertram; Girls’ Golf: Reagan Scheck, Finley Hamilton, JV: Abigail Langevin; Boys’ Golf: Aidan O’Connor, Brady Hebert, JV: Kasey Jakan.
ECC Scholar-Athlete Awards: Girls; track – Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain; Boys’ track – Jackson Durand; Boys’ volleyball: Vaughn Buzak; Softball – Campbell Favreau; Baseball – Drew Bundy; Girls’ lacrosse – Avery Nielsen; Boys’ lacrosse - Phillip Feanney Aleman; Girls’ Golf – Isabelle Tedisky; Boys’ Golf – Alec Nunes; Girls’ tennis – Delilah Kesselman; Boys’ tennis – Heath White.
ECC Sportsmanship: Boys’ golf – Luke Thompson; Girls’ golf – Colbie O’Connor; Boys’ lacrosse – Kellen Coleman; Girls’ lacrosse: Baylee Rosinski; Boys’ tennis – Steven Shen; Girls’ tennis – Kerrigan Reynolds; Boys; track – Harrison Durand; Girls’ track – Greysen Dery; Softball - Faith Sortwell; Baseball– Collin Gaudette; Boys’ volleyball: Jake Henderson; Unified Bananaball: Damien Redman.
All-State and All-Star Awards: Boys’ Volleyball Class S 1st team All-State, Connecticut Volleyball League and ECC All-Star: Brayden Bottone; Boys’ Volleyball Class S 2nd team All-State, Connecticut Volleyball League and ECC All-Star: Owen Budd; Class MM All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star and Co-Player of the Year in Girls’ Track: Emma Weitknecht; Class MM All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star in girls’ track: Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain; Class MM All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star in girls’ track: Lillian Morgis; Class MM All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star in girls track: Avery Plouffe; Class MM All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star in boys’ track: Eli Manning; ECC and Connecticut Volleyball League All-Star: Christian Hart; ECC All-Star in girls’ golf: Liliana Moran; ECC All-Star in girls’ golf: Reagan Scheck; ECC Div. I All-Star in boys’ golf: Aidan O’Connor; ECC Div. II All-Star in girls’ tennis: Wynter Worth; ECC Div. II All-Star in girls tennis: Gianna Musumeci; ECC Div. II All-Star in girls tennis: Delilah Kesselman; ECC Div. II All-Star in girls tennis: Sofia Aguilar Del Olmo; ECC Div. II All-Star in girls tennis: Jayda Ngibuini; ECC Div.II All-Star in girls tennis: Andrea De Cos Ortiz;
ECC Div. II All-Star in boys’ tennis: Rodrigo Diez; ECC Div. II All-Star in boys’ tennis: Ryan Chabot; ECC Div. II All-Star in boys’ lacrosse: David Genay; ECC Div. II All-Star in baseball: Caleb Simoneau; ECC Div. II All-Star in baseball: Rhys Asikainen; ECC Div. II All-Star in softball: Ellary Sampson; ECC Div. II All-Star in girls’ lacrosse: Anna Hernandez; ECC Div. II All-Star in girls’ lacrosse: Kaylee Saucier; ECC Div. I All-Star in girls track: Elise Coyle; ECC Div. I All-Star in girls track: Claire Bruneaux; ECC Div. I All-Star in girls track: Bella Amlaw; ECC Div. I All-Star in girls track: Olivia Tracy; ECC Div. I All-Star in girls track: Nova Almquist; ECC Div. I All-Star in girls track: Teagan Maloney; ECC Div. I All-Star in girls track: Ella Lidonde; ECC Div. I All-Star in boys track: Kai Brailsford; ECC Div. I All-Star in boys track: Owen Williamson; ECC Div. I All-Star in boys track: Thatcher Paterson; ECC Div. I All-Star in boys’ track: Colin Teal; ECC Div. I All-Star in boys track: Abe McGregor; ECC Honorable Mention in softball: Maci Corradi; ECC Honorable Mention in boys’ lacrosse: Quan Sangasy;
ECC Honorable Mention in baseball: Hayden Maloney; ECC Honorable Mention in boys’ tennis: Cayden Worth; ECC Honorable Mention in boys’ tennis: Steven Shen;
ECC Honorable Mention in boys’ volleyball: Gavin Hecker.
Girls’ Golf had the best overall grade point average of the spring sports teams while the softball team was named best dressed for the evening.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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Johanne Charlotte (Davis) Wenger
Johanne Charlotte (Davis) Wenger, 79, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on June 17, 2026.
Born on Nov. 26, 1946, in Putnam, Connecticut, Johanne was raised in South Woodstock, where she developed a lifelong love for family, faith, and serving others. A Licensed Practical Nurse by training, she dedicated her life to caring for others and faithfully served alongside her husband, James Wenger (2025), in pastoral ministry for more than five decades. Through her gifts of music, hospitality, encouragement, and prayer, she quietly touched countless lives.
Johanne leaves her daughters, Katherine Wenger Kinnear (Brian), of Hillsboro, Ore., and Suzanne Wenger (Rafael Frutos Fernández), of Madrid, Spain; her grandchildren, Evelyn and Russell Kinnear; and her twin sister, Jennifer Simms of Campbell Hall, N.Y.
She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, unwavering faith, steadfast prayers, ready smile, and her constant reminder to choose “kind words.”
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” — Philippians 1:21
A Graveside Service will be held at 2 p.m. July 12 at Quasset Cemetery, Woodstock, CT. A complete obituary, including service information, may be found on the Smith and Walker Funeral Home website. Smithandwalkerfh.com
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Wed. July 1
Exhibits
WOODSTOCK --- The Center for Woodstock History on Rt. 169 exhibitions for the summer and fall include “Woodstock Through the Camera’s Eye in Post-Civil War America” and “Crazy for Quilts,” a monthly series of small spotlight exhibitions of quilts by local quilters. The center is open for exhibition viewing and research Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other arrangements through the website: www.centerforwoodstockhistory.com
Sat. July 4
A Most Glorious 250th Anniversary, America!
4th of July Jamboree
E. WOODSTOCK --- The East Woodstock Congregational Church's long standing 4th of July Jamboree will be held on the East Woodstock Common. Includes music, a parade, food, games, a cake walk and much more.
Tues. July 7
Al-Anon Meeting
POMFRET --- Al-Anon will meet at noon on Tuesdays at the Christ Church, 527 Pomfret St. Please use the lower level door, near the flagpole. All welcome.
Wed. July 8
Revolution Tunes
PUTNAM --- the Putnam Public Library, the Aspinock Historical Society, the American Revolution PBS fund and the America 250 Connecticut Affiliate will present “Connecticut Tunes and Tales of the Revolution” from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Town Hall with Connecticut singer-songwriter Kent Besocke. Free.
Sat. July 11
Fireworks
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will present its Fireworks extravaganza starting at 7 p.m. with a concert and the fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Rain date 7-19. Bring your lawn chairs.
Bottle Drive
PUTNAM --- Paws Cat Shelter is holding a Can and Bottle Drive from noon to 3 p.m. at the shelter, 74 School St. Please separate 2-liter bottles. Pet food and donations are always welcome and greatly appreciated. Paws is a non-profit, all volunteer organization caring for the cats of our communities. For more info or to make a monetary donation, contact Paws at 860-315-1228.
Sat. July 25
Concert – River Fire
PUTNAM --- The Al Fresco Concert and River Fire will begin with a concert at 7 p.m. followed by the season’s first River Fire at 9:15 p.m. with music provided by WINY Radio. Free. Bring a lawn chair. Brought to you by the Town of Putnam and WINY Radio.
Pig Roast Fund-raiser
WOODSTOCK --- Freshly roasted pork and more from 5 to 8 p.m. to raise $10,000 to build a home in Guatemala through Partners in Development. Music by guitarist duo "That Dollars Gone". $50 pp, 10 and under $10. Advance sales only. Contact Mitzi as pidfundraiserCT @gmail.com
Sat. Aug. 8
Concert and River Fire
PUTNAM --- A concert and River Fire will begin with a concert at 7 p.m. followed by River Fire at 9:15 p.m. with music provided by WINY Radio. Free. Bring a lawn chair. Brought to you by the Town of Putnam and WINY Radio.
Sun. Aug. 9
Main Street Car Cruise
PUTNAM --- The annual blowout Main Street Car Cruise will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. around downtown and at Rotary Park. Free for registrants and spectators. Presented by the Town of Putnam.
Pluck-A-Duck
PUTNAM --- Pluck-A-Duck Extravaganza will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rotary Park. Lots of games, vendors and more. Last chance to buy your Pluck-A-Duck drawing tickets. The ducks are plucked at noon Aug. 10 at the secret pond location. Fund-raiser that benefits 39 nonprofit organizations. Presented by the Putnam Business Association.
Wed. Aug. 12
‘Baseball Wars’
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library and the Aspinock Historical Society will present “Baseball’s Own Civil War, 1818-1865” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall. Free.
Sat. Sept. 6
Savor the Flavor
PUTNAM --- The annual Savor the Flavor – a Food Tasting, will be held from noon to 2 p.m. in downtown Putnam. It benefits IHSP-Daily Bread. Brought to you by the Putnam Business Association & Town of Putnam.
Thur. Sept. 10
The Wall That Heals
PUTNAM --- The Wall That Heals, replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a mobile Education Center, is coming to Putnam Sept. 10 through 13, at Murphy Park. It will be open 24 hours. Free.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. thewallthathealsputnam2026.org www.vvmf.org
Sat. Oct. 3
Revolutionary Abington
ABINGTON --- The Pomfret 250th Committee will present a simulated battle re-enactment Oct. 3 and 4 at the Pomfret Recreation Park. There will be two encampments – one British, one American. Battles will be staged at some points Oct. 3.
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