Weber, Alfred Henry 1904-1925

WEBER, MAHURIN, GOODMAN, HANDKE, KNUTZEN, SCHNOOR, BERENS, BUTER, PEDERSEN

Posted By: Elaine (Weber) Harrington (email)
Date: 10/8/2006 at 14:19:04

Copied from the Dunlap Reporter dated June 4, 1925

The community was saddened on Decoration Day when it was learned of the untimely death of Alfred Weber who with three companions, two of whom were his brothers, was spending the holiday fishing on the Sioux river when the accident occurred.

The details of the tragedy, as near as we can learn, were as follows---Alfred, in company with Tom Goodman, Mearl Mahurin and Emery Mahurin left Dunlap Friday evening for an arranged outing. They stayed all night near Onawa and were joined in the morning by Franz Weber, Henry Handke and George Mahurin and their families. After some time spent in the vicinity of Turin, fishing and picnicking, the entire party went to a place near the Rasmus Knutzen farm about 7 miles south of Turin.

After selecting a place to picnic and camp the party started fishing and the boys concluded to take a swim. They donned their bathing suits and went down the river about 15 rods and entered the water. After being in the water a while, Alfred concluded to swim across the river and started across. As e neared the other shore he cried out that he could not make it and asked for help,but no one of the party was able to give him aid and he sank.

The other young ment gave the alarm and Mr. Handke, Franz Weber and George Mahurin ran down to the place but by the time they reached the spot, Alfred had disappeared.

They said there was nothing they could do so they went to he Knutzen home and phoned for help. A crowd soon gathered and after about an hour and a half the body was discovered. It was taken to the Knutzen home. A doctor from Soldier had been called and was on the scene when the body was recovered, but the young man was past earthly aid and an attempt to resuscitate him were futile.

Mr. Weber, father of Alfred, was notified and accompanied by Undertaker J. N. Schnoor went over and brought the remains to Denison Saturday evening.

Alfred Henry Weber was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Weber of Denison, and was born on the 29th day of May, 1904 in Ute, Iowa. He met his untimely death by drowning on the 30th day of May 1925, and was 20 years, 11 months and one day old at the time of death.

He spent his early boyhood on a farm near Dunlap and graduated from the 8th grade in 1919. After graduation, he took up mechanical engineering and attended an automobile and tractor school at Sioux City, earning himself a diploma which he received onthe 24th day of February, 1920. He was a capable and practicle mechanic.

He did not follow his profession, however, last year being engaged in farming operations, operating one of his father's farms near Dunlap for himself. He made much of a success of this venture. He was engaged to be married to a young lady of Dunlap (Miss Mabel Disrude) the wedding would have taken place this fall except for this unfortunate accident.

He was a jovial sort of young man, hard working, careful and capable, with strictly good habits, and a man who had all the bright and prosperous prospects that the future could hold for any one, had death not claimed him in the prime of this life.

He attended the Lutheran Parochial school in Dunlap and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on the 26th day of October, 1919, by Rev. Luepke.

Besides his grief-stricken parents, he leaves to mourn his untimely demise, six brothers and three sisters: Louis, Peter, Franz, Henry, Herman, Ben, Mrs. W. M. Berens, Mrs. Hy. Buter and Mrs. P. C. Pedersen, all lving near Dunlap, as well as many other relatives and friends.

The funeral services were held on Monday, June 1st, at 2:00 p.m. at the Lutheran church in Denison, Rev. Frese officiating and interment was made in the Oakland Cemetery.

The Reporter joins in extending the bereaved relatives a sincere sympathy for the sorrow and grief caused them by the departure of a loved member of the family.