Birth Name: Lewis Wendell Willkie
Date of Birth: February 18, 1892
Place of Birth: Elwood, Indiana, U.S.
Date of Death: October 8, 1944
Place of Death: New York City, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity: German
Wendell Willkie was an American businessperson, corporate executive, and lawyer. He was the Republican Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 1940. He was also a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for President in 1944.
Wendell had never run for public office before receiving the presidential nomination.
Wendell was the son of Henrietta (Trisch) and Herman Francis Willkie. His father was born in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. His mother was born in Indiana, to German parents.
Wendell’s paternal grandparents were Joseph Wilhelm Willke (the son of Friedrich Willeke) and Wilhelmina “Minnie” Breitschuh.
Wendell’s maternal grandparents were Lewis Trish (the son of Louis Ludwig Trish and Anna Elizabeth Fetter) and Julia Ann Dorethea Katherine Von Hassen Lose. Lewis was born in Darmstadt, Hessen. Julia was born in Hamburg.
Source: Genealogy of Wendell Wilkie (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://www.findagrave.com