War touches local family
Soldier's mother dies from a 'broken heart'
Staff reporter
The heart is a powerful organ.
It can withstand many tests of stress and pressure.
However, there are times when medical science cannot heal a heart — a broken heart caused by grief.
Nanette Lowry of Marion knows heartbreak.
Her family was notified Sept. 25 of the death of her nephew, U.S. Army Spec. Robert Oliver Unruh, 25, of Tucson, Ariz.
A week later, the family suffered another heartbreak — the sudden death of the soldier's mother.
Karen Unruh-Wahrer, 45, collapsed and died suddenly Saturday in her Tucson home.
Although the cause of Unruh-Wahrer's death has not been released, friends say her family is blaming it on a "broken heart" over losing her son.
Unruh-Wahrer suffered chest pains Thursday and was seen at an emergency room where she underwent tests for heart trouble. She returned home that day and reported feeling better Friday.
After seeing her son's body Saturday morning, Unruh-Wahrer collapsed that evening in her kitchen. Her husband, Dennis Wahrer, a respiratory therapist, immediately began CPR along with several other family members.
Unruh-Wahrer, also a respiratory therpist, was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Hospital just before midnight.
One week to the day, the mother's heart could bear no more.
According to a report from the U.S. Department of Defense, Specialist Unruh was assigned to the 44th Engineer Battalion, Camp Howze, Korea, and was killed when enemy forces used small arms fire and attacked his unit in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Lowry said Unruh was a hero.
"He saved his unit," Lowry said. "That's why he's getting a bronze star."
According to Lowry, Unruh and his unit were in need of sleep.
"Robbie told them to go ahead and sleep, volunteering to keep watch," Lowry said.
Unruh was killed when the enemy attacked the unit. It gave members of the unit sufficient time to react and defend themselves.
Unruh lived in Marion from 1980 to 1985, Lowry said.
"My sister (Unruh-Wahrer) and Robbie lived in Marion off and on during that time," Lowry said. Robbie attended kindergarten in Marion before moving to another state.
Unruh graduated from high school in 1998 from Roanoke, Va.
"When Sept. 11 happened, it had a huge impact on him," Lowry recalled.
Unruh was living in Virginia at the time and was not too far from the Pentagon.
"Shortly after that, Robbie enlisted," Lowry said.
The family wasn't surprised. After all, Unruh came from a military family.
Unruh's great-grandfather served in World War II, his grandfather fought in Korea, and his father, Dennis Wahrer, saw action in Vietnam.
Lowry said when Unruh told her he was going into the military, she asked him if he was sure.
"He said he wanted to serve his country," Lowry said.
Born nine weeks premature, Lowry said Unruh had difficulty learning.
"Robbie had learning disabilities and dyslexia," Lowry said.
He did well in the Army and "surpassed everybody else," Lowry said.
A bronze star, purple heart, and good conduct medal will be presented to Unruh posthumously.
Unruh has other relatives who live in Marion — Susan Unruh, an aunt, and Robert and Joyce Kellison, great uncle and aunt.
His grandparents, O.K. and Molly Unruh previously lived in Marion, Lowry said.
And now, mother and son were honored in a joint procession and burial today (Wednesday) in Southern Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
A double, private family service was held. Heather Mortuary, of Tucson, was in charge of the service.
Lowry teaches a third grade class at Price-Harris Elementary School in Wichita.
When Lowry's students were told about her nephew's death, they compiled hand-written letters to Unruh's family.
"I haven't read them yet," Lowry said Thursday before she left for Arizona. "I'm going to wait until I get to my sister's house."
The war in Iraq continues to touch lives in Marion, where a little boy and his mother lived for a brief time and will be remembered.
