Schmelzer, Roland John 1932 - 1949

SCHMELZER, THEIN, RADLOFF, MAIBAUER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/11/2017 at 12:44:00

Clayton County Register, Thur., 5 May 1949.

Roland Schmelzer, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Schmelzer of near Littleport, died in a Dubuque hospital late Wednesday after an accident in which he was thrown from the running board of a car while enroute to a fire.

He and Paul Kafer were knocked from the outside of the car, driven by LaVerle Voss, when it brushed a light pole near the Littleport school. The group was on the way to a fire at the Lloyd Clinton home on the edge of Littleport. The fire, caused by explosion of a stove, was extinguished by Charles Rieck, who makes his home with the Clinton family.

Depty Sheriff Milton Klink investigated the accident.

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Clayton County Register, Thur., 12 May 1949.

Roland John Schmelzer, 16, died at Mercy hospital, Dubuque, at 4:15 Wednesday afternoon, May 4, after an automobile accident at Littleport at noon that day. Funeral services were held at Sacred Heart church, Littleport, of which he was a member, Saturday morning, May 7, with the Rev. Loras Holmberg officiating. Burial was in St. Joseph cemetery, Elkader. Pallbearers were: Lloyd Baumgartner, Wayne Baumgartner, Richard Hildebrand, Delbert Baars, Burnell Whittle, and Malcolm Whitle.

He was born Oct. 21, 1932, at Littleport, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto J. Schmelzer. The family moved to the present home six miles south of Elkader in Cox Creek township in 1941, from Volga township. Roland received his grade school education in schools at Garber and Communia, and at the time of his death was attending Littleport high school.

Surviving besides his parents are three brothers and one sister, all at home. They are: Keith S., Donald J., and Robert L., and Patricia S. Schmelzer.

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Earl Thein, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Thein, West Union; Mr. and Mrs. Otto Radloff and family and Ivan Thein, Dubuque; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Maibauer, Chicago, Ill.