Joseph Hollis "Hollis" Elce 1913-1935

ELCE, LEMENSKI, WHITISH

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/17/2011 at 23:20:45

Hollis Elce, son of Mrs. Marie Elce, is in the Coleman hospital in a serious condition as the result of drinking a large quantity of lye at 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon. Hospital attendants said today his condition was very serious.

Elce was recently a patient in the psychopathic ward at the University of Iowa hospital at Iowa City. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, November 6, 1935)

Hollis Elce Drinks Lye
Is In Critical Condition At Hospital – Severely Burned, Recovery Doubtful
There is little improvement in the condition of Hollis Elce, 20, son of Mrs. Marie Elce, who drank a solution of lye yesterday afternoon about 3 o’clock at his home. He was rushed immediately to the Coleman hospital, where he is in a critical condition. His throat and stomach were severely burned.

Elce, who had been working in St. Louis, Mo., all summer, returned to Estherville about a month ago and has been staying with his mother. Yesterday morning he was up town and spent a short time at the Standard Oil station with his cousin, Melvin Whitish, who said today that Hollis seemed to be in good health and did not seem to be despondent about anything. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, November 7, 1935)

Funeral services were held Monday at 9 o’clock from the St. Patrick’s Church for Hollis Elce, 22, who died at 1:30 A.M., Friday in the Coleman hospital. The youth drank lye last Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to end his own life. Burial was in the Catholic cemetery.

Pallbearers were John Chapman Donald Krahmer, Donovan Brown, Alvin Carlson, Ralph Brown and Claire Coon. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, November 13, 1935)

Last Rites for H. Elce
Youth Passed Away Friday [November 8, 1935] Morning; Burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery
Last rites were held Monday morning at 9 o’clock at the St. Patrick Catholic church for Joseph Hollis Elce, 22, who passed away early Friday morning at the Coleman hospital, where he was taken after he drank a lye solution. The Rev. Father Eischeid of Armstrong officiated at the church and at the burial service at the Catholic cemetery.

Pallbearers were John Chapman, Donald Krahmer, Donovan Brown, Alvin Carlson, Ralph Brown and Claire Coon.

Joseph Hollis Elce was born in Estherville on March 12, 1913, and had lived almost his entire life in this community. He was taken to the University of Iowa hospital at Iowa City a few months ago for treatment but later went to St. Louis, Mo., to attend school. He was sent home about a month ago because of nervousness and has been staying with his mother, Mrs. Marie Elce.

After regaining consciousness following his drinking the lye solution, the youth said he remembered taking the poison but could give no reason for doing so. His stomach and throat were severely burned.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Marie Elce, his father, Sid Elce, and a stepbrother, Melvin Lemenski. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, November 14, 1935)