Mrs. Lee Krotz

KROTZ, OSTERKAMP

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 2/7/2019 at 09:29:04

1 September 1955 - The Tipton Advertiser

Mrs. Lee Krotz, 16, Tipton Mother, Fatally Burned in Home Fire

An explosion of the kitchen stove in the Lee Krotz home Saturday evening about 5:30 caused a fire which completely destroyed the cottage and all its contents. The explosion apparently blew Mrs. Krotz unconscious into a bedroom of the home where she burned to death before rescue could reach her. Her husband was seriously burned in attempting to save her. Their three-months-old baby was rescued with only minor burns on its stomach.

It is believed Mrs. Krotz attempted to start a fire with kerosene and that there were coals remaining in the stove which exploded the kerosene and practically blew the roof off the house.

According to Coroner Dr. W. J. Kopsa the Krotz family had just returned home and were preparing to get supper, when Mrs. Krotz used the kerosene. Mr. Krotz was in the bedroom with the baby, which he saved from the blaze, and when he returned to find his wife he was badly burned before the body was found in the adjoining bedroom;

Krotz' brother Arnold and two other men were outside the house when the explosion occurred. Krotz handed the baby to his brother and returned into the flaming house to find his wife, who was apparently dead before he could find her. He was taken by ambulance at once to the University hospitals in Iowa City where it was reported about 85 percent of his body was seriously burned. Immediate call was sent out for blood plasma. He has had numerous transfusions and still remains in serious condition at the hospital.

The small cottage of frame construction was destroyed within a few minutes, and the Tipton firemen worked to prevent spread of the hot flames to an adjoining residence property less than ten feet from the Krotz cottage. With the Krotz family also lived his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Krotz, and his brother Arnold. The elder Krotz couple were not at home at the time of the explosion and fire.

The deceased mother was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Osterkamp who reside about five miles southwest of Tipton.

Funeral service was conducted at Trinity Lutheran church in Tipton Tuesday, August 30th, with Pastor Harter officiating. Interment was in Tipton Masonic cemetery.