August Wenndt 1875-1945

WENNDT, HASENBANK, PIEPER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 2/7/2017 at 14:55:24

11 January 1945 - The Clarence Sun

Failing to see a westbound freight train at 8 o'clock last Thursday night, the automobile driven by Arthur Wenndt, accompanied by his father, August Wenndt, was hit by the engine and thrown clear of the north track, both men falling from the auto between the two tracks. The father died soon after being picked up and carried into the caboose. Arthur was rendered unconscious and was taken to St. Luke's hospital.

An eastbound freight was approaching and was naturally much more conspicuous to a driver nearing the crossing at the west edge of Clarence by reason of the curve just east of this point. This might have caused the driver to be less careful. The eastbound engine men were close enough, it is said, to have seen the accident.

Albert Meyer was coming to town from the Kelly farms and James Bixler was coming home from the Fritz Eskildsen farm and both came to the scene of the accident soon after it happened. More assistance was summoned.

Father and son were going to the Harold Meier home on the Young farm to attend an anniversary party.

The Wenndt auto had the appearance on one side of no injury to it, but on the side that the locomotive struck it, the damage was considerable.

August Wenndt was born April 23, 1875, and died Jan. 4, 1945, in his 71st year. The funeral was held at Trinity Lutheran church, Lowden, on Monday, with Rev. Herman Maas in charge. The pallbearers were Walter Wenndt, Henry Wenndt, Hugo Wenndt, Herman Lehrmann, Raymond Meier, Emil Meier. In charge of the flowers: Mrs. Richard Hulse, Mrs. Hugo Wenndt, Mrs. Ferdinand Hein. Burial was in the Lowden cemetery.

Mr. Wenndt with his son Arthur and daughter Sarah made their home on No. 6 east of Clarence at the Wenndt corners. Other surviving members of the family are Herbert, Gerhard and Ezra Wenndt, Mrs. Irene Hasenbank, Clarence, and Mrs. Norma Pieper, Lowden.