Otto William Loeschen 1885-1954

LOESCHEN, MOFFATT

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/14/2011 at 22:30:22

Flash of Lightning Causes Fatal Fall
Estherville – a fall through a skylight while he was painting at the Groves building here Friday [June 18, 1954] claimed the life of Otto W. Loeschen, 69, of Estherville.

He suffered a fractured skull in the fall. He was startled by a flash of lightning, which caused him to lose his balance. (Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, June 19, 1954)

Otto Loeschen
Ralston - Funeral services were held at Estherville Tuesday [June 22, 1954] for Otto Loeschen of Estherville, formerly of Ralston, who died of injuries suffered in a fall. Burial was at Estherville.

Mr. Loseschen fell through a skylight in a building he was painting. A companion said he believed Mr. Loeschen was startled by a flash of lightning, causing him to lose his balance. Working under an outdoor skylight, he fell 12 feet through a secondary skylight to the floor of an insurance office.

Mr. Loeschen suffered a skull fracture and died several hours later in a hospital.

Surviving are his wife and children. His wife, the former Ethel Moffatt, grew to womanhood at Ralston. (Carroll Daily Times Herald, Carroll, IA, June 23, 1954)