GERCHAS, Raymond Joseph 1931-1949

GERCHAS

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 3/1/2012 at 11:37:55

Raymond Joseph Gerchas – March 20, 1931 – July 27, 1949

#1

DROWNS IN WAPSIPINICON

Riceville, Ia. – Raymond Gerchas, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gerchas, drowned Wednesday, shortly after noon, at the swimming hole in the Wapsipinicon River just south of McIntire, where he and Robert Miller had driven from the Gerchas farms northeast of Riceville. Roberts father, Fred Miller, operated one of the Gerchas farms, near that place.

The boys had been in the water, wading about, only a short time when Raymond, who was learning to swim, stepped from the shallow water into a 10-foot hole. He called for help as he went down and Robert, who is 14, immediately dove in after him. Robert says that Raymond grasped him and pulled him under and he “had to slip away” to save himself. Raymond was 6 feet tall and weighed around 200 pounds.
Robert screamed for help and ran toward the John Antonovich farm, a short distance away. The latter’s son, Henry, home from Chicago, Illinois, for a visit, his wife and Mrs. Antonovich, Sr., were already on their way to the swimming hole as they had heard the cries and it was only a few minutes before Henry located the body and brought it to the bank.

He and the others applied artificial respiration but the young man was dead by the time Dr. Thomas Walker, Riceville, arrived. Dr. E. L. Whitley, Mitchell County Coroner, pronounced the death accidental drowning.

Raymond was a member of the 1949 graduating class and had planned to attend college this fall. He was prominent in athletics, playing football four years, basketball three years, and baseball three years during his course. He was also a member of the mixed glee club.

Surviving are his parents and two sisters, Julia and Helen, of Chicago, Illinois.
The body was taken t the Martz Funeral Home at LeRoy, Minnesota.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Riceville. Burial will be in Mason City, Iowa.

The Gerchas family, originally from Lithuania came to this community from Mason City 15 years ago.
After the war, they financed the trip to the United States of 15 European displaced persons.
Waterloo Courier, Thursday July 28, 1949

#2
Raymond Joseph Gerchas was born March 20, 1931, the son of Joseph James and Helen Gerchas.

#3

Find A Grave Memorial: Elmwood Saint Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa
Raymond J Gerchas – March 20, 1931 – July 27, 1949