John James "Mickey" Schany, 1924-1951

SCHANY, NICHELS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/24/2016 at 22:49:30

Motocycle Collides With Car
Highway 17 Scene of Crash
John “Mickey” Schany 26, of Graettinger, maintenance employe of Holy Family hospital, was killed instantly at 1:10 p.m. today when his south-bound motorcycle collided headon with a car going north of highway 17. Schany was passing a load of hay when the accident occurred.

Schany’s body landed at the point of impact but his motorcycle continued for another 26 feet, three inches.

The car, north-bound, with which he collided was driven by Gilbert V. Osher of Graettinger. With Osher was Mrs. Julea Nelson and Mrs. Kate Osher.

The motorcycle had just passed the south-bound car of Frank Shipley before the crash. Shipley saw the motorcycle start around the load of hay, also going south, and the on-coming Osher car from the south. Shipley said he observed that “someone is going to have to slow up.”

Leonard A. Barrett, driver of the tractor pulling the load of hay, said he did not see the motorcycle approaching from behind him but heard it start to pass him. “I didn’t know where he was,” said Barrett. It sounded at first like an airplane.

“The accident probably happened right beside me on the tractor because I just looked over when they hit.”

William Tackett, who was working in his garden directly east of the accident scene, said “heard the crash and looked up. The boy fell off the motorcycle and the motorcycle went around and around, farther up the pavement. Then I ran up to the pavement.”

Mrs. Tackett had just come out of their house east and a little south of the accident. She also saw the accident.

Riding with Frank Shipley were Mrs. Virgil Shipley and Lucille Shipley. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, June 28, 1951)

Services for John “Mickey” Schaney, who was killed near here yesterday when his motorcycle collided with an automobile, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Graettinger. He died instantly of a skull fracture. Mr. Schany was traveling south on highway 71 and had just crossed the Des Moines river bridge when he collided with the north-bound car of Gilbert V. Osher of Graettinger.

On his way to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schany of Graettinger, he was passing a load of hay being hauled by Leonard A. Barrett when the accident occurred.

Mr. Schany has been employed at the Holy Family hospital in Estherville since 1945 and has lived at the hospital since 1946. He helped with the construction of the hospital until 1947 and then remained as a maintenance employe.

The sisters at the hospital said yesterday, that he was “very well liked, had a most cheerful disposition and was always anxious to help. We’re going to miss him terribly much. He’s been like one of the household, almost like a brother to all of us.”

Mr. Schany was born Aug. 13, 1924 near Graettinger. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic school in Emmetsburg and the Graettinger public school and high school. He did general work and helped on his father’s farm until he was employed at the hospital here.

Rites will be held a Immaculate Conception Catholic church at Graettinger with burial in St. John’s cemetery in Emmetsburg.

Surviving members of his family are his parents and 12 brothers and sisters. They are William of Emmetsburg, Robert of Graettinger, Mrs. Mary Nitchalls of Des Moines, Mrs. Ruth Johnson of Spencer, Richard in the U.S. marines in San Diego, and Thomas, Joan, Gene, Helen, Pauline, Dan and Irene at home with their parents. Mr. Schany was unmarried. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, June 29, 1951)