RIGEL, Grace Ellen (Willier) 1897-1964

RIGEL, WILLIER, MILLER, GRANT, TUFTE, CLARK

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 8/8/2013 at 01:23:23

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Monday, September 28, 1964]

Waterloo Woman
Killed in Crash

Injuries received in a one-car traffic accident near St. Ansgar Sunday proved fatal to a 67-year-old Waterloo woman.

Victim of the mishap was Mrs. Leo Rigel, of 554 Adrian St. She died in the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital at Osage at 6:30 p. m. Sunday of injuries received in the accident which occurred on Hwy. 218 about two miles north of St. Ansgar at 9:45 a. m. (DST) Sunday. Mrs. Rigel suffered fractures of both ankles and spine and internal injuries.

She was a passenger in a car driven by her husband, 64, who was hospitalized in Osage with head cuts and leg and rib injuries.

The Mitchell county sheriff's office reported Mr. and Mrs. Rigel were en route to Minnesota on a fishing trip when the Rigel car crashed. The site was about six miles south of the Minnesota-Iowa border.

Sheriff Richard Jahnel said Rigel told him the fatal accident happened after he turned to the right of the highway to avoid an oncoming car. The Rigel car struck a four inch drainage culvert, causing the car to go out of control. It crossed the highway and rolled over in the ditch.

Mrs. Rigel was thrown about 45 feet from the car. The car and trailer it was towing were complete losses, officers said. Contents of the trailer, including a television set, clothing, tools and fishing gear, were scattered over a 50- foot area.

She was born Grace Ellen Willier, the daughter of William and Emma Grant Willier, on Feb. 18, 1897, in Waterloo.

She was married to Lynn Miller in August, 1918, in Waterloo. He died in October of the same year. She was married to Leo Rigel on May 10, 1920, in Waterloo. They have resided in Waterloo all of their married life.

She is survived by her husband; two sons, Lewis Rigel of 232 Marie St., Elk Run Heights; Robert Rigel of Los Angeles; one daughter, Mrs. Jack Tufte of Flint, Mich.; one sister, Mrs. George Clark of 833 Newton St.; one brother, Lloyd Willier of 519 Western Place; and eight grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son and one grandchild.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Parrott and Wood Funeral Home.

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[Waterloo Daily Courier, Wednesday, September 30, 1964]

Funeral services for Mrs. Leo Rigel, 67, of 554 Adrian St., who died Sunday night at the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital, Osage of injuries suffered in an automobile accident near St. Ansgar, la., will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Parrott & Wood funeral home with the Rev. Charles Jacobs, pastor of the First Congregational church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

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Waterloo Daily Courier, Thursday, October 1, 1964, Waterloo, Iowa]

Leo Rigel 2nd Victim of Crash

Double Funeral for Man, Wife Saturday

[Complete article with Leo's obit]