Shepard, Harry 'Gerry' 1936-1943

SHEPARD, REES, OLDFATHER, SMITH, TAYLOR, JENNINGS, COX, FOX

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/2/2013 at 20:03:06

Volga City, Ia. - The body of six-year-old Jerry Shepard, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Shepard, was found in the Volga River near his home here late Tuesday night, the victim of an accidental drowning. The youth and an older brother, Bobby, were returning home from school when Jerry recalled that he forgot his dinner pail. He returned to the school alone, obtaining his pail, and started to cross the river on the ice. When he failed to appear for the evening meal, a search was instituted. A mitten and the sack in which he carried his dinner pail were found near a hole in the ice and rescuers then dragged the river, recovering the body about 9 p.m. beneath the ice.

Clayton County Sheriff E.W. "Dick" Carlsen was called from Elkader and he said it was an accidental drowning. The body was removed to the Oelke Funeral Home in Elkader pending completion of funeral arrangements.

Surviving are his parents, two brothers, and four sisters. The family moved to Volga City last September from Oelwein, the father since having been employed here as a laborer. The victim was in the second grade.

~Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Wednesday evening edition, February 3, 1943

----- -----

Volga City, Ia. - Funeral services for Harry "Gerry" Shepard, six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Shepard, were held here Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Methodist Church with the Rev. D.V. Butler, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Hill Crest Cemetery. The casketbearers were: Kenith Oldfather, John Smith, John Taylor, Kenneth Jennings, Francis Cox, and Francis Fox.

The youth drowned Tuesday night in the Volga River while returning home from School.

He was born July 17, 1936 at Oelwein and he accompanied his parents to Volga City last September. Survivors include his parents; two brothers, Ivan of Waterloo and Bobby at home; four sisters, Mrs. Maxine Rees of Waterloo, Norma of Oelwein, and Wilma and Shirley, both at home.

~Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Friday evening edition, February 5, 1943

______________

Added by Reid R. Johnson,11/30/2023:

Clayton County Register, 04 Feb. 1943.

Jerry Shepard, six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Shepard of Volga, lost his life in the icy waters of the Volga river late Thursday afternoon. It is believed that the child intended taking a shortcut across the river from school. He apparently slipped and fell into the open water along the shore about 4:30 p.m. The body was recovered 100 feet down the stream about four hours later.

Jerry and his older brother Bob left the Volga school together but the former forgot his lunchbox and went back to get it while the older boy went home. When the younger child failed to come home a search was started about 7 o'clock. Tracks led to the bank of the river below the bridge and the boy's lunchbox and mittens were found there. The strip of open water over which he apparently attempted to jump was two feet wide and about four foot deep. Sheriff E. W. Carlsen was called to Volga to investigate the accident and he arrived there as the searchers' were recovering the body. Although Coroner D. E. Lowe of Volga was ill and was unable to hold an inquest, it was determined that death was due to accidental drowning.

The child is the youngest member of the Shepard family and was in the second grade in school. The family moved to Volga from Oelwein last September. Besides his parents, the boy is survived by two brothers and four sisters.

The body was brought to the Oelke funeral home here and services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 at the Shepard home in Volga. Burial will be made in Hillcrest cemetery.