Uilke Karl Venema 1885-1930

VENEMA, PEEBLES

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/30/2013 at 22:35:16

Ole K. Venema, of Wallingford, was killed about 8:15 Friday morning when the car he was driving was hit by a gas-electric motor passenger southwest of Raleigh near the Bendixen farm. The crossing is not considered a dangerous one by any means, but this is the third death that has occurred at this place. A man and a boy were killed on this crossing in a car about six years ago. Mr. Venema was a ditcher and was on his way to the John Frank farm in northwest Twelve Mile Lake Township, whre he was doing some tiling. He was headed north and the passenger is the one due in Estherville about 8:45 a.m. coming from the west. Chris Bendixen, who was working in a field nearby was the first person, outside of the train crew, who saw the wreck. His attention was drawn to the crash by the noise. There was dirt and dust thrown in the air. When he came to the train, the crew had already placed Mr. Venema in the baggage car. Eager to know who the injured person was, Mr. Bendixen looked in the car and saw that Veneman was gasping his last. Arrangements were made from the Bendixen home to have Dr. Birney and Mahlum and Anderson ambulance meet the train when it arrived in Estherville. He was dead when the train arrived at its destination. Mr. Venema had a small white dog with him, that has accompanied him and spent the day near where Venema worked. The dog was uninjured, and came home several hours afterwards. The dog rode in the back seat of the model T. Ford Tudor. The car as can be seen from the above picture, is perhaps one of the worst demolished machines as a result of a wreck. Just why the accident occurred is a mystery. A train can be seen approaching from a long distance either way at this crossing, in fact the railroad is slightly raised over the public road. Early arrivals at the scene could see that the wheels had slid from the application of the brake, but it was too late. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 21, 1930)

Man Killed at Railway Crossing
U.K. Venema is Struck By North Bound M.& St.L.
Stops Car With Front Wheels on Track – Leaves Wife, Four Children
Uilke Karl Venema, 45 years old, was killed Friday morning when the enclosed Ford car in which he was riding was struck by the northbound M. and St. L. passenger at the Bendixen crossing between Wallingford and Terril. Mr. Venema was alone in the car and saw the train but too late to stop until the front wheels were on the track. The fatally injured man was put on the train but died before reaching Estherville. Mr. Venema had started toward Terril to his work as a tiler, leaving home at seven-forty. He was accompanied in the car by his dog who was his faithful companion. The dog returned home at three-thirty in the afternoon having sustained some scratches.

Mr. Venema was born Holland on Nov. 23, 1885 and came to America 23 years ago, believing that America could offer him better opportunity that could be found there. He first lived at Sheldon for seven years following farming most of the time while there. From Sheldon he moved to West Bend and followed the work of a tiler. Here he met Tresa Peebles to whom he was married at Algona, on Oct. 12. 1921.

In the spring of 1923, Mr. Venema moved with his family from West Bend to a place near Graettinger, then the Terril and in the spring of 1926 to the Kehor place one half mile south of Wallingford. This spring Mr. Venema and his wife and four children moved to the town of Wallingford.

Mr. Venema was a hard working man, faithful and accurate in his work. He will be deeply mourned by his wife and two children Bernice and Donald and two step-daughters, Irene and Alvena to whom he was always good and kind and by his neighbors with whom his relations had always been pleasant.

Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon at one-thirty at the home and at 2 o’clock from the Riverside Lutheran church. Rev. Peder Nordsletten officiated. A quartette, Mr. and Mrs. S.O. Lundy, Mrs. Jake Amdahl and Roy Gunderson sang three songs at the church accompanied by Miss Lena Gunderson. Mr. Magnus Wolden furnished the other musical numbers. Chris Bendixen, Glen Rauhauser, Harry Anderson, O.J. Anderson, Chester Torreson and John Morrice acted as pall bearers. A very large gathering was present at the service and an indication of the sympathy felt for the grief stricken wife and children. Many floral offerings were placed on the casket. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 21, 1930)

Wallingford Man Killed by Train
U.K. Venema, 45, Drives in Path of St. L. Train
Expires on Way to Hospital
U.K. Venema, 45, of Wallingford, was fatally injured Friday [May 16, 1930] morning when the car which he was driving was struck by the northbound M. & S.L. gas-electric passenger train at the Bendixen crossing in 12-Mile Lake township. His body was brought to Estherville by the train crew but he was dead before the train reached town.

Details of the accident are unknown. There is a fair view of the railroad at the crossing, and the train approaching is easily visible from a car at the crossing. Mr. Venema’s dog was riding with him at the time of the accident and returned home about three o’clock in the afternoon with a few scratches and bruises. Mr. Venema, who is a tiler, was on his way to work at the time of the crash.

Born in Holland
Two children, Bernice and Donald, two step-children, Irene and Alvena, and his wife survive him. He also has a brother in India and a sister in Holland.

Mr. Venema was born in Holland on November 23, 1885, and immigrated to the United States in 1907, twenty-three years ago. After living on a farm at Sheldon for seven years, Mr. Venema moved to West bend, Iowa where he worked for a short time as a tiler. While at West Bend he married Tresa Peebles, the ceremony taking place at Algona on October 12, 1921.

Services held Monday
In 1923 the family moved to a farm ten miles east of Graettinger and a few months later moved to Terril. After living at Terril until 1926 they moved to a farm about half a mile south of Wallingford, and only a few weeks ago they moved to the town of Wallingford.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 19, at the home, and later at the Riverside Lutheran church, with the Rev. Peder Nordsletten officiating. Music was furnished by a quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. S.O. Lundy, Mrs. Jake Amdahl, and Mr. Roy Gunderson, with Miss Lena Gunderson accompanying them. Pall bearers were Chris Bendixen, Glenn Rauhauser, Harry Anderson, O.J. Anderson, Chester Torreson, and John Morrice. (Estherville News, Estherville, IA, May 22, 1930)