SIMONSEN, Olaf H. 1880-1954

SIMONSEN, SCHULTZ

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 3/19/2013 at 22:18:10

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Monday, July 5, 1954, Waterloo, Iowa]

CEDAR FALLS - Olaf Simonsen, 74, long-time resident of Cedar Falls, was fatally injured when he was struck by an Illinois Central freight train at the East Main Street crossing about 3:50 p.m. Sunday.

He was carried a distance of about eighty feet after being struck by the Diesel locomotive, which apparently he didn't see until it was almost on him. He was dead on arrival at the hospital.

Simonsen, a widower, lived by himself in a small house at the east end of Fourth Avenue. Friends believe he was either on his way to his home or was on his way to the VFW clubhouse just off East Main Street when the accident occurred.

He was a painting contractor here for many years until he retired about 15 years ago. He was a member of the First Christian Church and was a veteranof the World War I and also served on the Mexican border prior to the World War.

He was born in Aalborg, Denmark, Feb. 17, 1880, the son of Charles and Anna Simonsen He accompanied his parents to the United States later the same year. They located first at Plano, Illinois, and then lived for a time in Chicago and later at Parkersburg. The family moved to Cedar Falls in 1890, where Olaf was graduated from the Cedar Falls High School in 1897.

He was a member of the National Guard with rank of second lieutenant when he went to the Mexican border with the local guard company. He was later called into service in the U. S. Army when the World War I broke out and saw 18 months of service in Germany He held the rank of first lieutenant when he was mustered out.

Survivors include a sister, Mrs. H. W. Schultz, 819 West Third St., and a brother Charles A. Simonsen, of Bridgeville, Pa.

The body is at the Nelson Funeral Home, where the funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, conducted by the Rev. Floyd Bergfalk. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

-----------------------------
His gravestone shows his middle initial as H.