Leo Vern Sharar 1914-1956

SHARAR, SHULTZ, REINHARDT, VAN EMAN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/25/2014 at 20:33:09

Leo Sharar Killed In Traffic Accident
Leo Sharar, 42, Estherville farmer, was killed early Sunday morning about 12:20 a.m., when he apparently lost control of his car on a curve about six miles north of Estherville on Highway 17.

His car, a mass of flattened, smashed and bent wreckage, came to rest on its top about 90 feet west of the highway in a tract of land which adjoins highway 17 and a gravel road to the west.

Investigating officers, Deputy Sheriff Linn Foderberg and Highway Patrolman Marvin Grebe, reconstructed what apparently occurred from the evidence they gathered at the scene a few minutes after the wreck.

Their investigation showed that the Sharar car started skidding as it approached the curve, hurtled off the highway onto the land adjoining it, and then rammed into the side of a gravel pile on this land.

After hitting the gravel pile, the car apparently flew into the air end-over-end for approximately 120 feet, hit again apparently on one corner because a streak of red paint was noted on the ground, then shot into the air again, landing this time with a terrific impact a few feet further on. The windshield assembly, other broken glass, hood ornament and other pieces of the car were found at this spot. The car’s crazy progress was stopped in a short distance after it hit the ground the last time, ending on its top.

Sharar’s body was found just east of where the car came to a halt, apparently falling out as it landed on its top. Investigating officers estimated that the auto traveled between 480 and 500 feet from the time it first started skidding.

Occupants of the car Sharar had passed a half-mile or so south of the curve were first on the scene. Driver of this car was Arnold Thorsland, 24, and riding with him were Mr. and Mrs. Norman Syverson and daughter, Evelyn. Thorsland told investigating officers that he was traveling about 60 miles per hour when the Sharar car “passed me like a bullet.”

Thorsland said he watched the car as it travelled on down the highway. He said he noticed that “all of a sudden the taillights seemed to fly into the air: and then he no longer saw the lights from them. Thorsland told officers he was certain that there had been accident and that he and Mr. Syverson watched for the car as they progressed down the highway. They saw it to the west of the highway and Thorsland let Syverson out of the auto to see if he (Syverson) could be of assistance and he immediately drove to the next farmhouse to telephone authorities at Estherville.

Investigating officers were of the opinion that Sharar was dead by the time the car came to a halt. The car speedometer was stopped between 105 and 110 miles per hour.

They did not know whether anyone was riding with him, however, and took considerable time to search with flashlights the surrounding area for a possible person, reasoning that a passenger might easily have been thrown out of the vehicle on one of its violent crashes or when it was hurtling through the air. They found parts of the auto strewn over the wide area during the search.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Sternborg’s Funeral Chapel and at 2 p.m. at the Methodist Church. The Rev. Harrison G. Dawes will officiate and burial will be at Oak Hill cemetery.

Survivors include three children, Darold, Dawn and Mrs. Bert (Virginia) Shultz, all of Estherville. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, October 29, 1956)

Sharar Rites Wednesday
Funeral services for Leo Vern Sharar, 42, who was killed early Sunday morning in a motor vehicle accident will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist church. The Rev. Harrison G. Dawes will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery.

Survivors include three children, Mrs. Bert (Virginia) Shultz, Darald and Dawn Sharar, all of Estherville; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sharar of Dunnell; two brothers, Glen of Dolliver and Floyd of Dunnell; two sisters, Mrs. Herman (Myrtle) Reinhardt of Dolliver and Mrs. Wylie (Martha) Van Eman of Estherville and two grandchildren.

One brother, Homer, preceded him in death. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, October 30, 1956)

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Leo Sharar, 42, of Estherville was killed early Sunday [October 28, 1956] when his car left highway 17 about five miles north of Estherville.

Deputy Sheriff Lynn Foderberg said occupant of another car who witnessed the accident told him Sharar’s car traveled about 120 feet through the air when it left the road. It then rolled and skidded an additional 220 feet. (Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, October 29, 1956)

Estherville Man Killed in Car Crash
Estherville, Iowa – Leo Sharar, 45 [42], of Estherville, who operates a farm near Dunnell, Minn. was killed early Sunday when his car went out of control at a bend in the highway six miles north of here and left the highway. (Austin Daily Herald, Austin, MN, October 29, 1956)