Wm. Berkey

BERKEY, OHL

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/17/2018 at 09:28:30

2 February 1911 - West Branch Times

Wm. Berkey, of 1032 Kirkwood avenue, died Jan. 30, from tumor of the spinal column, one of the rarest diseases known to medical science. Mr. Berkey had been ill for three months and had suffered the most terrible torture. It was thought at first that he was suffering from sciatic rheumatism but two weeks ago he was removed to the University hospital and Dr. Van Epps diagnosed the disease as spinal tumor, and succeeded in locating the obstruction by its effect upon the nervous system.

An operation as performed by Dr. Jepson, who found the tumor at the point where Dr. Van Epps had indicated it. The tumor was removed and Mr. Berkey had made some progress toward recovery but became worse and died.

He had been gradually becoming paralyzed, and would have become a complete paralytic if the tumor had not been operated upon.

Mr. Berkey was 55 years of age. He is survived by a wife and three children, Mrs. Dave Ohl, formerly of East Lucas township, now of Arkansas; Earl who works on the Douglass farm near West Branch, and Lloyd, who is holding a claim in Washington state.

Mr. Berkey formerly resided on a farm near West Branch. He moved to Iowa City a year ago, and until he became ill worked on the Peter Lentz farm just east of the city.--Iowa City Republican