James L. Tackett 1923-1963

TACKETT, THOMPSON, CAVINESS, HARTWICK, KEASLING

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/1/2011 at 17:09:30

Pair Apparently
Lost way in Zero
Weather Saturday

Funeral Services
Scheduled Today

A Blind Spirit Lake man and an also sightless companion were found dead Sunday morning on a railroad right-of-way northwest of Beresford, S.D. The two men were apparent victims of sub-zero temperatures, having lost their way Saturday night on their return home.

Dead are; James L. Tackett, 39, who moved to this community about two years ago; and Reuben Poppen, about 50, a friend from Beresford. The two men had spent Saturday evening in a Beresford bowling alley according to reports.

Tackett had been living with a sister in the South Dakota community. Located south of Sioux Falls. He had had no difficulties previously in finding his way home and his failure to return was not discovered until Sunday morning.

A family en route to church found Tackett's body on the tracks. A search for Poppen, who utilized a seeing-eye dog, was begun and his body was found about a half mile further along the tracks. The guide dog was standing near his body. It appeared as though the two lost their way and wandered into the country.

Tackett was born Nov. 8, 1923 in Fremont. He had been blind since he was five years of age when he was injured in a fall. He learned to get along without the use of his eyes and attended the School for the Blind in Vinton seven years. The family moved to Estherville in 1942 and lived there until two years ago when they came to Spirit Lake.

Funeral services will be held Thursday (today) at 2 p.m. in the Sternborg-Reese Funeral chapel in Estherville with the Rev. David Ulseth, pastor of the Assembly of God Church of Spirit Lake, officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery at Estherville.

Mr. Tackett is survived by his mother, Dessie of Spirit Lake; three sisters, Mrs. Edwin Thompson and Mrs. Clifford Caviness of Spirit Lake; and Mrs. Hal Hartwick of Beresford, S.D.; one brother Robert of Spirit Lake; and a half-brother Paul Frederick Keasling of Sioux City. He was preceded in death by his father, two brothers and a sister.

Pallbearers will be Harvey Clark, Sr., Harvey Clark, Jr., Fred Clark, Jerry Caviness, Velva Ross and Raymond Johnson. (Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, IA, Feb, 7, 1963)