Ross Nebergall 1940-1964

NEBERGALL, TROOP

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 10/10/2020 at 07:28:34

19 November 1964 - The Tipton Conservative

Ross Nebergall, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Nebergall, was killed in a hunting accident late Tuesday afternoon. The accident occurred about a quarter mile from the Cedar river, approximately 1 1/2 miles south of the Alba Gaul farm home and 1 1/2 mile southeast of the Nebergall farm home.

Nebergall had worked at the Gaul farm, unloading corn, until approximately 4:30 p.m. He left the farm, headed south, carrying a .244 Remington rifle, a model 725 carbine. The rifle was slung on his back, with a body sling, over his left shoulder. With him were 2 dogs, an old dog that he had hunted with for several years and a white pup.

When Nebergall did not return home after darkness had fallen and the old dog came back, a search was started for him. Because of the intense darkness and the heavy timber and brush in the area between the Nebergall farm and the river, it was almost impossible to make a through search of the area.

Nebergall's body was found by Richard Gaul, 18, about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. He had followed the trail south from the Gaul home into the timber and heard the barking and whimpering of the pup. He followed the sound of the dog and found Nebergall's body, the pup shivering beside him.

Death had been instantaneous. The bullet from the .244 cartridge entered the base of Neberall's skull. He had fallen forward and rolled down a 45 foot incline. The rifle was found abut 10 feet from where the accident took place. The safely was off, and the snap that connects the rifle sling to the rifle stock was unsnapped.

Sheriff Richard Barden said that he found blood and a bullet mark on a tree limb, about 5 feet off the ground.

Barden said that he believed that the rifle discharged as Nebergall bent over to go under the tree limb. At the same time it is also believed that the stock on the rifle must have caught on some underbrush, so that the stock was forced upward, causing the barrel of the rifle to move downward so that the end of the barrel was pressed against the base of his skull. At that moment the trigger, which had been adjusted by Nebergall by honing down the sear, apparently was touched by brush and the gun discharged.

Nebergall was an expert with firearms and one of the most experienced hunters in Cedar county. He had hunted since he was a child along the Cedar river and was considered by those who hunted with him to be exceptionally cautious in handling guns.

Sheriff Barden found 2 empty .244 cartridges in his pocket, an empty cartridge in the chamber of the gun and one live cartridge in the rifle. The rifle holds 5 cartridges.

His body was taken to the Dye funeral home.

The son of Leo and Ruby Nebergall, he was born June 28, 1940 and graduated from Tipton high school in 1958. He had farmed with his father west of Tipton. He is survived by his parents, 2 sisters, Connie at home and Mrs. Ed (Linda) Troop and a brother Steven, Cedar Rapids.

26 November 1964 - The Tipton Conservative

Funeral services for Ross Alan Nebergall, 24, Tipton, were held in the Tipton Methodist church Nov. 21 with the Rev. Eugene Miller officiating. Pallbearers were Jim Shotwell, Nile Roszell, Jr., Dave Williams, William Naber, Gail Dauber and Jerry Geeseka.

Jeanne Schneider sang "In the Garden" and "Nearer My God to Thee", with Mrs. Irma Crawford, accompanist. Mrs. Harvey Laucamp, Mrs. Dale Stiff and Mrs. Robert Taylor were in charge of flowers. Burial was in the Tipton Masonic Cemetery. The Dye Funeral Home was in charge.

Ross Nebergall was killed Nov. 17 in a hunting accident.

He was born June 28, 1940, the son of Leo and Ruby Nebergall and graduated from Tipton high school in1958. He was a member of F.F.A. and several years ago had been active in the Explorer South post. Ross had farmed with his father west of Tipton.