Loukaitis, Darold Drowned (1928-1946)

LOUKAITIS, VOKT, JESSEN, GUSTAFSON

Posted By: Audubon County Coordinator (email)
Date: 7/8/2020 at 19:39:04

The Adair News, Vol. 65, No. 23, July 25, 1946, pg. 1:

Darold Loukaitis Swimming Victim

Funeral Rites Were Held Sunday Afternoon

This community was shocked last week by news of the death of Darold John Loukaitis, 18, while swimming in a farm pond northwest of Adair last Thursday evening.

Darold and his brother, Dale, and their father, John Loukaitis, went to the pond on the farm of a neighbor, Marlo Jessen, in company with Mr. Jessen and his son. Darold, who was learning to swim, apparently stepped into a deep hole and started to swim out. Suddenly he threw his arms upward, his head jerked back and he went down in about 12 feet of water.

His father swam to the spot, but Darold did not come up again. Mr. Loukaitis then attempted to rescue his son by diving, but was forced to give up when he was seized with cramps.

A call for help was sent out over the telephone lines and many responded from all over this territory. Various attempts were made to rescue the lad, but all were of no avail until Glen Gustafson, who had made a succession of dives searching the deep hole for more than half an hour, finally located and brought up the body at 10:15 p.m.

Darold was born April 17, 1928, in Guthrie county. Later the family moved to an Audubon county farm and his entire life was spent in the Adair community. He attended the Adair schools and was a member of the football team. He was preparing to begin his senior year in high school this fall.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Loukaitis; a brother, Dale, and a sister, Lois.

Funeral services were held at 1:15 Sunday afternoon at the late home and at 2 o'clock at St. John's Lutheran church, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. E. F. Dohrmann, whose sermon text as Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."

"What a Friend We have in Jesus" and "Come, Ye Disconsolate" were sung by the men's a capella chorus of the church. Forming the chorus were George Schirm, Leroy Krumm, John Faga, John Jergens, Otto Faga, John Tibben, Evert Mueller and Andy Faga. Organ music was by Mrs. Clarence Petri.

Casket bearers, members of last year's football team, were John Richter, Dale Fairfield, Lowell Wesack, Bill Edwards, Merle Vokt and LeRoy Dill. Interment was in St. John's Lutheran cemetery.

Members of the senior class of Adair high school attended the services in a body.

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