Adolph Kolstead

WALTERS, ROGERS

Posted By: Cindy Lovell (email)
Date: 1/15/2005 at 08:26:55

Plan Rites Here For Former Iowa Citian, Fatally Injured In Mysterious Accident

Funeral arrangements were being made here today for Adolph Kolstead 50, former Iowa Citian, who died shortly after midnight Tuesday at Minneapolis, Minn., alter apparently lying eight days in a coma in his residence there.
A post mortem determined death was due to a skull fracture or bruised brain. Mrs. Lloyd Rogers, Coralville, a sister of Kolstead, said today he understood the inquest at Minneapolis showed his death was accidental.
The remains were brought here today, pending funeral arrangements.
Minneapolis authorities were of the opinion that Kolstead fell while working on a ladder and struck his head on a radiator. It appeared he may have been putting compo board on the ceiling in the dining room. Some dust was brushed from the corner of the radiator, Minneapolis authorities stated.
A blood stained hammer was lying beside him when he was found. This first led authorities to suspect that he was attacked.
When found he had an inch-long growth of beard, although he was ordinarily clean-shaven.
Kolstead was employed by the Farmers and Mechanics Savings bank in Minneapolis to take care of five boilers and watch two oil burners in properties of the bank.
On July 15 a tenant in one of the buildings called the bank to say the furnace had been unattended. Bank officials believed Kolstead may have gone on a vacation without reporting to them.
Tuesday officials became alarmed. They called police, and J. D. Syme, head of the bank's real estate department, and M. J. Thompson, another bank employee, went to Kolstead's home with police.
They broke down the front door and found Kolstead in the kitchen. At first they believed he was dead and called the morgue wagon. It was noted then that he was breathing lightly, and he was taken to General hospital, where he succumbed without regaining consciousness.
Kolstead, born in Allamakee county, May 20, 1891, is survived by his mother, Mrs. Isabel Kolstead, of Iowa City, two brothers, Melvin, of Iowa City and Otto, of Los Angeles, and three sisters, Ida of Denver, Mrs. E. B. Walters, of Waukon and Mrs. Lloyd Rogers, of Coralville.
Kolstead attended the University of Iowa.
The remains are at the Oathout funeral home.

From the Iowa City Press Citizen July 24, 1941