Vincent Paul Hassel 1913-1949

HASSEL, SIPES, KURSCHNER, HASSELL

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/26/2011 at 16:20:09

Vincent Hassel, 35, Died Friday From Auto Crash Injuries
Funeral Held at Estherville Monday
Vincent Hassel, 35, died at Holy Family Hospital, Estherville, at 3:10 p.m. Friday [May 6, 1949] from injuries sustained in an auto accident at 9:50 p.m. the previous evening.

The accident that resulted in tragedy was a head-on collision between a panel pick-up truck and a passenger car. Orville Clinton was driving west in the pickup and Vincent was riding with him. Kenneth Hiles, 19, was the driver of the passenger car and Virgil West, 15, was riding with him. The accident occurred on Highway 9 about a fourth of a mile west of Gruver. The machines met head-on. Vincent suffered two separate breaks of the vertebra and also internal injuries. Clinton, driver of the pick-up has a serious jaw injury. The occupants of the passenger suffered bruises and lacerations.

Both machines were wrecked beyond repair. After the accident the pick-up remained on the road and the passenger car was in the ditch. The wreckage was discovered by Kenneth Thompson, of Lawler. He endeavored to telephone from a farm place but the phone was out of order. He then drove to Estherville for an ambulance and for help. The injured were taken to Holy Family hospital.

Vincent’s condition was critical and the attending physicians advised that relatives be called. He passed away at 3:10 p.m. Friday.

The remains were prepared for burial by the Martin Funeral Service of Graettinger and were waked at the home of a brother, Barney Hassel and wife, 320 S. Eighth street, Estherville. Hundreds of friends including many from Graettinger and vicinity called to view the remains and to express sympathy to the family.

The funeral was held Monday morning at 9:00, at the St. Patrick’s Catholic church, Estherville. Rev. Father J. J. Keane officiated at the Requiem Mass. The funeral was very largely attended. Burial was in the parochial cemetery. The pallbearers were Vincent Leduc, John Tindall, Harvey Sorensen, Harry Hyatt, Wm. Garrison and Emmett Riley.

Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hassel, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mamen and daughter, Janet, and Alphonse Hassel, of Ottawa, Illinois; Mrs. Veronica Kurschner and daughter, Patsy, of Chicago; Charles Sandvig and Margaret Ball, of Des Moines.

Vincent Paul Hassel, son of Joseph and Margaret Hassel, was born at Utica, Illinois, September 14, 1913. The Hassel family moved to this locality in 1915 and located on a farm northeast of Graettinger. Vincent attended the Hoprig school and for the following years was engaged in farming, first with his father and later for himself. For the past three years he was in the employ of the Davis Packing Co., Estherville.

On December 31, 1938, he was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Pearl Sipes, of Graettinger. The couple made their home on a farm in this locality until three years ago when they moved to Estherville.

Vincent’s death is mourned by his wife and by seven small children, Maxine, Marlys, Dorothy, Kathryn, John, Gary, and Steven. His death is also mourned by a sister and by three brothers. The sister is Mrs. Myron (Veronica) Kurschner, of Chicago. The brothers are Joseph of Ottawa, Illinois; Benedict, of Gruver, Iowa; and Bernard, of Estherville. His parents and one brother, John, preceded him in death. A nephew, Paul Hassel, and family reside at Ringsted.

The tragic death of Vincent Hassel has occasioned much sadness in the community and sympathy for those so suddenly bereft of a husband, father, and brother. The news of Vincent’s critical injury was received in Graettinger Friday morning and his many friends here were saddened and shocked to hear it, and to know he had but a few hours to live. Vincent was a Graettinger young man and the most of his lifetime was spent in this community. The friends of his boyhood years are here and all regarded him highly. He was always pleasant and cheerful as well as kind and generous. He was a man who did not make enemies. He was not only a true friend, but a most loyal brother and a kind, devoted husband and father.

It was in this community the couple spent the most of their short married life. They were blessed with many children and the bright-eyed, happy, hearty boys and girls idolized their father. It was into this happy home that the angel of death entered to call the husband and father. The tragic sorrow is a crushing blow to the grief stricken wife and children. The heartfelt sympathy of all goes out to them. The merciful hand of time will soften the keep pangs of separation they now feel so keenly and the knowledge that God does all things for the best is a consolation to Christian people in their darkest hour of sorrow.

The Times extends heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Hassel and the children and to the brothers and sisters and other relatives in their tragic sorrow. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, May 12, 1949)