LEON LEONARD KOENIG

SNITKER, KOENIG

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 4/3/2003 at 09:10:52

LEON LEONARD KOENIG

Leon Leonard Koenig, the son of Leonard Koenig and Florence Snitker Koenig, was born at McGregor, Iowa on May 12, 1954. He was baptized in St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Garnavillo, Iowa on June 20, 1954. He died at the Community Memorial Hospital in Postville on July 12, 1964 at the age of 10 years and two months, the victim of a tragic accident.

He attended the Postville schools and would have entered the fifth grade this fall. He was a member of the Cub Scouts, and a member of the Children's Choir of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Postville.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, August Snitker of Waukon.

He is survived by his parents; two sisters, Sharon and Karen, of Hiawatha, Iowa; two brothers, Ronald and James, of Castalia; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Martha Snitker, of Waukon; his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Koenig, of Castalia, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Postville, July 14 at 2:00 p.m. Interment was in the Postville cemetery with the Rev. Charles E. Witt officiating.

The following article tells of the fire that took Leon Koenig life:

10-Year Old Boy Dies From Burns, Castalia Blaze

One of the worst explosions and fires in the history of Castalia early Saturday evening, July 11, took the life of a ten-year-old boy, burned down the Albright oil station, caused damage to other business buildings and threatened the entire town.

The explosion occurred shortly after 6:00 p.m., rocking the building off its foundation. Two 10-year-old boys were in the building at the time of the explosion. Leon L. Koenig, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Koenig of Castalia, suffered fatal burns and died Sunday in the Community Memorial Hospital at Postville. His cousin, Randy Koenig, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merlin Koenig of Castalia, also was badly burned. Randy's condition is reported to be slowly improving at the hospital.

The two Koenig boys were the only occupants of the 30 x 60 foot building when the tragic blast occurred. They managed to run from the back door of the building, their clothes in flames. Leo O'Hara went to their assistance. He wrapped them in blankets to extinguish the flames and assisted by Harlan Stee, Jr., then took them to the hospital.

The station is owned by Mrs. Florence Albright, who has been operating it with the assistance of Bobbie Szabo and Ed Schnuelle. An apartment in the building was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Dave Breitsprecher, who were not present when the fire started. They lost all of their personal belongings, but reported they have insurance which well cover their loss.

Witnesses said window screens were blown off the building and landed across the street. The house was moved about one foot off its foundation. A large plate glass window in the post office building across the street was cracked and shingles on the front of the tavern directly opposite the service station were blistered by the heat. A garage building east of the station was on fire for a time until firemen put out the flames.

Volunteer firemen from Castalia, Ossian, Calmar, Frankville and Postville were called to the site. They prevented the two large storage gasoline tanks from being touched off by the flames.

A representative from the state fire marshal's office conducted an investigation on Monday. He said it was possible the explosion and resulting fire could have been caused by gasoline fumes. An underground tank had been filled with gasoline Saturday morning and it was his opinion that the fumes may have collected in the basement of the station.

Mrs. Albright announced she will rebuild the station as soon as possible. She was unable to estimate the loss, but reported that it was partially covered by insurance.

Both articles from the Postville Herald, hand dated 1964, from my mother's obituary collection.