Born in Arenzville, Illinois. Peter Frank Wankel lived in rural Cass Co., Illinois and in Beardstown, Illinois most of his life. In his later years he was cared for by his daughter, Gertrude Weber. His daughter, Pearl Moles, wished to give her sister some relief, so she brought Grandpa to Imogene, Iowa. He became ill while in her home and was taken to the Hand Hospital in Shenandoah, where he died at the age of 94.

Peter Frank Wankel was one of the middle children of Peter Franz and Anna Marie (Hamm) Wankel. He was born in Cass County, Illinois, and he and his wife Ellen, had six children - three girls and three boys. Peter was a farmer and acquired enough land that is was necessary for him to hire extra help at various times. The closest town to his farm property was Ashland, Illinois.

Ellen died of cancer when she was 72. Peter dies a month before his 95th birthday, so he lived a number of years alone. He moved to a house in Beardstown, and his youngest daughter, Gertrude Weber, and her family lived in the house and attended to his needs for a number of years, until they bought a place of their own. Ernest lived in the house with his father for some period of time after the Webers vacated it. In the late 1940's Peter spent some time in Imogene, Iowa, with his daughter and son-in-law, Pearl and Emmett Moles. When he became impatient to return home to Illinois, his grandson, Kenneth Moles, flew him to Beardstown. This was his first plane ride - at age 90+. Peter was in Imogene again during the summer of 1951, when he became ill and entered Hand Hospital in Shenandoah. He died there on July 13, 1951. He had been hard of hearing and had had rheumatism or arthritis for at least 20 years, so the quality of his life was gone many years before he died.

Peter's funeral was held in Beardstown, and he and Ellen are buried in the Oak Grove cemetery in Beardstown, Illinois.

1917 Cass Co. Farm Directory: Wankel, Peter (Ellen) Ch. Addie, Edgar, Harry, Pearl, Ernest, Gertrude; Beardstown Rt 2, tel Beardstown, twp 18, R 12, Sec 24, O118a (1856).

Born in Arenzville, Illinois. Peter was in Imogene (IA), again during the summer of 1951, when he became ill and entered Hand Hospital in Shenandoah, Iowa. He died there on July 13, 1951 at 9 PM -- aged: 94 years, 11 months, and 1 day. Funeral 16-Jul-1951 at Cline's funeral home, Rev. R.C. Close officiating. Buried in Oak Grove cemetery, Beardstown, Illinois.