Bothel, George died 1934

BOTHEL, WIRKLER, DOWNING

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:26

Clayton County Register, Thur., 08 Feb. 1934.

Monona: George Bothel, 53, was killed instantly Saturday afternoon between 3:00 and 3:30, when a pick-up truck in which he was riding was struck by a Prairie du Chien ice cream truck. Bothel was an employee of the Carl G. Schultz furniture store here and was delivering an empty casket to Farmersburg.

The accident occurred about two miles south of Monona on highway No. 55, near the Walter J. Garms place. The Prairie du Chien truck was driven by Ernest Gilson. The latter's left ear was nearly severed from the head and both trucks were badly demolished.

A car, driven by a girl, moving slowly, was given as the reason for the accident, and it is alleged that Gilson was trying to pass this car at the curve.

Coroner Leslie Oelke of Elkader conducted an inquest after the accident and heard a number of witnesses. His jurors were J. F. Carroll and F. J. Peglow of Monona, and Lou Busching of Elkader.

Mr. Bothel is survived by his widow, Mrs. Lovina Wirkler Bothel, who only Saturday noon arrived home from Cedar Rapids, where she had been in the hospital, and two daughters, Lois, a student in Cedar Rapids, and Marjorie, at home; five brothers, Frank Bothel of Monona, Marlin and Charles Bothel of Madison, S.D., Harry Bothel of Ossian, and Clarke Bothel of Malcolm, Iowa. Two sisters, Mrs. Claude Downing and Miss Mattie Bothel, preceded him in death.

George Bothel was well and favorably known, having been born and reared at Monona, and his genial and happy disposition won for him friends who were numbered by his acquaintances. He was a good husband, a true father to his two daughters, a good neighbor and a faithful employee. For several years the family resided in Dubuque where he was on the employ of the W. A. Walch company.

Funeral services were held Monday at 2 o'clock from the First Methodist church, the Rev. Louis H. Joslin officiating, with burial in the city cemetery.