Roebken, Abner J. 1881-1951

ROEBKEN, DETTMAN, MATT

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/13/2008 at 12:56:05

Abner J. Roebken

Funeral services were held Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Schutte Funeral home here and at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Garnavillo for A. J. Roebken, 69, who passed away at Postville Hospital April 3, from injuries suffered in a fall.

The rites in Postville were in charge of Rev. Walter T. Martin of the Community Presbyterian Church and were in charge of Rev. L. C. Urlaub at Garnavillo. Burial was at Garnavillo with Masonic rites, Ray Douglass in charge.

Abner J. Roebken passed away at the Postville Hospital Tuesday, April 3, 1951 at the age of 69 years.

He was the son of Fred and Margaret Roebken and was born at Garnavillo, May 30, 1881.

On June 2, 1908 he was married to Clara Dettman of Garnavillo. To this union one son Robert was born.

Mr. Roebken spent most of his life farming near Garnavillo. Three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Roebken moved to Postville. During the past nine months he was employed at the Postville Locker plant.

Mr. Roebken was baptized and confirmed at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Garnavillo. He was a member of the Masonic lodge.

He is survived by his wife, one son Robert of Durango, a grandson, Kent, and a sister, Mrs. A. W. Matt of Peru, Indiana.
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A. J. ROEBKEN KILLED IN FALL HERE TUESDAY

Suffers Severe Head Injuries; Dies Six Hours After Fall

A. J. Boebken, 69, passed away at Postville Hospital late Tuesday afternoon having suffered fatal injuries in a fall into a slaughtering pit at the Postville Locker plant about noon Tuesday.

Roebken, who would have been 70 in May, fell into a concrete kill pit at the locker about 11:50 a.m. Tuesday and was rushed by Schutte ambulance to Postville Hospital for treatment. He suffered severe head injuries and never regained consciousness. He passed away about 5:30 in the afternoon.

Mr. Roebken was employed at the locker and was working at his job when the tragic accident happened. Working with him was Milo Gericke, plant owner, and Harley Cowles, butcher.

Mr. Gericke reported that the accident happened so quickly he didn't see exactly what happened but thought that Roebken must have stumbled forward falling through a floor opening and down into the pit, which is about seven or eight feet deep. He apparently struck his head in the fall.

Funeral services are not yet complete at this time. The full obituary will appear in next week's edition of the Herald.

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Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.
Submitter has no further information.