George A. Becker

BECKER, MORITZ, BECHTEL, KRUMME, GOULETTE

Posted By: Ann Krumme (email)
Date: 11/4/2009 at 09:29:00

George A. Becker
The funeral of George A. Becker, bus driver who died Sunday at the wheel of his bus, was held Wednesday afternoon from the Strueber Funeral Home to the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2:30 o’clock.

The Rev. Charles A. Carriel, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiated at the services and at the graveside in Linwood Cemetery.

Prof. William B. Galloway sang several selections during the service, accompanied by Mrs. Robert Thomas, organist.

Pallbearers, members of the Motor Coach Operators Union, included Elmer Brauhn, Vern Hanchett, Harry Bughnes, Robert Chapman, Roy Schroeder, and Ed Latimore.

Becker—George A., age 58, Sunday, Oct. 16th, at 3 p. m. Beloved husband of Katherine Moritz Becker, Dubuque; father of Elizabeth Becker, Washington, D. C.; Evelyn Becker, Chicago, Ill.; Florence and Lorraine Becker, Dubuque; Lloyd and Eldon Becker, Dubuque; brother of Paul Becker, Los Angeles, Calif.; Simon Becker, Madison, Wis.; Mrs. Elizabeth Bechtel, Waukon, Ia.; Mrs. Ella Krumme, Ludlow, Ia.; Mrs. Clara Goulette, Indianapolis, Ind. The Rev. Charles A. Carriel, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, will conduct the funeral service at the Strueber Funeral Home Wednesday, Oct. 19th, at 2:30 p.m. Interment Linwood Cemetery. (Strueber Funeral Home.)
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BUS DRIVER PROVES HERO BEFORE DEATH.
Slams on Brakes to Insure Safety of His Passengers.

A bus driver who realized death was near proved himself faithful to duty by devoting his last moments to insuring the safety of his passengers.

George A. Becker, 58, of 1360 Iowa street, Interstate Power company bus driver, succumbed to a heart attack Sunday afternoon at 3:20 o’clock, while driving up the Eagle Point park road. The bus was half way up the last hill which leads into the parking circle, when Becker felt the attack coming on. He stopped the bus and had the presence of mind to set the emergency brake, thus making certain the bus would not move. Had he failed to do this, the ten ton bus, with its seven passengers, would probably have careened backwards down the hill and caused injuries or possibly death to its occupants.

Slumps Over Wheel
After setting the brakes, Becker slumped over the wheel, unconscious. Taken to Finley hospital in the city ambulance, he was pronounced dead upon arrival there by Dr. C. C. Coady, county coroner.

According to friends, Becker had not complained of feeling ill. About 20 minutes before he went out on his run, he was playing cards with some of his fellow drivers at the Interstate’s bus barn at 24th and Central.

Becker was born at Ludlow, Iowa, April 25, 1880. He was married to Miss Katherine Moritz. She survives with four daughters, Elizabeth, Washington, D. C., Evelyn, Chicago; Florence and Lorraine, at home; two sons, Lloyd and Eldon, Dubuque; two brothers, Paul Becker, Los Angeles, Calif.; Simon Becker, Madison, Wis.; and three sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Bechtel, Waukon, Iowa; Mrs. Ella Krumme, Ludlow, Iowa; and Mrs. Clara Goulette, Indianapolis, Ind. One son, George, preceded him in death.

Driver for 16 Years
Becker had been employed by the Interstate Power Company the past 16 years. He was a member of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railroad Employees, and was also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of the World. He attended Westminster Presbyterian church.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Strueber funeral home. Burial will be made in Linwood.

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FORMER LUDLOW RESIDENT’S TRAGIC DEATH AT DUBUQUE
(SUNDAY, OCT. 16 HAND-DATED)
Monday evening’s issue of the Telegraph-Herald contains the following account of the tragic death of a member of the George Becker, former well known residents of Ludlow township:

Quick thinking on the part of a bus driver stricken with a heart attack here Sunday afternoon saved eight passengers from possible death or serious injury.

George A. Becker, 58, the bus driver, had ascended the grade into Eagle Point park about 3 o’clock when he became ill. He drove the bus to the side of the road, and put on the emergency brake. Becker collapsed at the wheel, but the brake “killed” the motor when his foot slipped from the clutch lever. Without the emergency brake on there was danger of the bus slipping backwards down the steep grade.

One of the passengers walked to the park to turn in the alarm and shortly afterwards the city ambulance picked up the driver and was taking him to a hospital when death came. Dr. C. C. Coady, county coroner, said that heart failure was responsible for the man’s death.

Becker, who lived at 1360 Iowa street, was born in Ludlow township, near Waukon, April 25, 1880. He married Miss Katherine Moritz, who survives with four daughters, Elizabeth, Washington, D. C., Evelyn, Chicago, and Florence and Lorraine of Dubuque; two sons, Lloyd and Eldon, Dubuque; two brothers, Paul, Los Angeles, and Simon, Madison, Wis.; also three sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Bechtel, Waukon, Mrs. Ella Krumme, Ludlow and Mrs. Clara Goulette, Indianapolis, Ind. One son George , and two brothers, John and Lewis preceded him in death.

He had been an employee of the Interstate Power Company for the last 16 years. He held membership in the Modern Woodman and belonged to the Westminster Presbyterian church.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at a Dubuque funeral home, followed by burial in Linwood cemetery that city.

From a scrapbook of Ella, Mrs. William Krumme, continued by her son, Milton Krumme. All articles were neatly clipped so I do not know what paper they were from.