TROENDLE, Leo F. 1892-1937

TROENDLE, REGAN, BRESNAHAN, BECKER, TERRY, HELLE, DAMON, HOWE, FERRING, KNUDTSON, HAAS, WHEELER, SORUM

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 10/2/2010 at 11:35:23

Lansing Ridge Farmer Meets Tragic Death

LEO TROENDLE LOSES LIFE IN PECULIAR ACCIDENT AT FARM HOME SUNDAY

Leo Troendle, well known farmer residing on the former Spieler farm half way between Waukon and Lansing, nine miles from either place, met instant death Sunday afternoon in a peculiar and startling manner.

The boys attached a grindstone to a motor operated Maytag washing machine engine in order to sharpen shovels of a corn plow. The power produced is presumed to have resulted in excessive revolution to the weighty grindstone and caused it to burst apart, one portion of which struck Troendle with teriffic force in the jaw, sufficient to fracture his neck and cause instantaneous death. He was picked up lifeless by his 17 year old son James and Joseph Regan, a neighbor youth, who were with him at the time.

Coroner John L. Bresnahan was summoned, but upon being informed of the occurrences of the affair, deemed that no record of an inquest was necessary. The body was brought to the Pluemer & Bakke undertaking rooms and prepared for burial and then returned to the late home of deceased.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at St. Mary’s church, Lycurgus, conducted by Fr. Becker of West Ridge. Burial followed with military honors in the nearby cemetery, he having attained a commendable record in service overseas in the World war. Many Legionaires from Lansing and Waukon attended the funeral. Dick Terry and Mildred Helle blew taps following the 3-gun salute.

The startling death of this estimable husband in the prime years of his life is greatly deplored by many neighbors and friends who had enjoyed his association from boyhood. His loss is indeed a grievous one and inconsolable to his sorrow stricken wife and four children, James 17, Evelyn 13, Cyril 8 and Thomas 5, and widowed mother, Mrs. Frank Troendle, who have the sincere sympathy of all.

Deceased was in his 44th year, having been born Sept. 1, 1892, at the farm home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Troendle in Center township. Two brothers, William and Herman, reside in Lansing, and two sisters, Mrs. Marcella Damon of La Crosse, and Mrs. Michael Howe, in Makee township. His wife was formerly Marie Ferring, daughter of Mrs. Mary Ferring.

Casker bearers were Alex Knudtson, Dennis Regan, William Haas, William Wheeler, Claus Sorum and Dr. Bresnahan.

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Posted By: Janet Koozer
Date: 11/29/2008

Grindstone Kills Ex-Service Man

Leo F. Troendle Of Lycurgus Dies Sunday When Struck By Fast Turning Wheel

Leo F. Troendle of Lycurgus, a World War Veteran who saw some of the fiercest fighting of the American army in 1918, was killed on his home farm Sunday afternoon. Mr. Troendle was sharpening a tool on a grindstone which had been hooked up to a motor and was turning at about 1400 revolutions per minute, when the grindstone flew into many pieces. Two of them struck him in vital places, one on the left jaw breaking his neck, and the other near the heart, causing his death instantly.

His son James and a neighbor boy, Joseph Regan, were with him though one was on each side of him, neither was hurt. Other pieces of the stone split the seams in the tin roof of the building in which the machine was located, and broke things inside the structure.

Born September 1, 1892, in Lansing township, Leo was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Troendle. He was educated in the rural schools of Allamakee county. He was married to Marie Ferring following the World War, and is survived by his widow and four children, James, Evelyn, Cyril, and Thomas, all on the home farm.

Other survivors are his mother, Mrs. Frank Troendle of La Crosse, two brothers, William and Herman of Lansing, and two sisters, Mrs. Marcella Damond of La Crosse, and Mrs. Mike Howe of Makee township.

Leo Troendle entered the service of the United States Army February 24, 1918, and spent a short time at Camp Dodge, Iowa. He served his county overseas for nearly a year, leaving the United States May 16, 1918, and returning May 20, 1919, receiving his honorable discharge late in May, from company l, 130th Infantry.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic church of Lycurgus, where he was caretaker of the cemetery, and of the American Legion. funeral services were held from the church yesterday morning, with the Reverend Elmer F. Becker of West Ridge singing requiem high mass, and he was buried with military honors by members of the American Legion of Waukon and Lansing. The Reverend T. B. O'Toole, who delivered the funeral sermon, also pronounced the final rites at the grave.

While overseas, Mr. Troendle was in some of the most important as well as decisive battles of the entire war. He was in action with the American Expeditionary Forces in the Meuse-Argonne battle, on the Somme, at Amiens, and Marcheville.

Pallbearers were all former comrades in the American Legion: Dennis Regan, Will H. Haas, W. C. Wheeler, Claus Sorum, Alex Knudson, and Dr. J. L. Bresnahan. About 35 members of the Legion from Waukon and Lansing formed the escort of Honor.

In delivering the funeral sermon, Father O'toole praised Mr. Troendle as a faithful servant of his church and of his country, and a valuable and useful member of his community.

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