John James "Mickey" Schany, 1924-1951

SCHANY, NITCHELS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/25/2016 at 01:19:07

John J. Schany, 26, Met Tragic Death Friday Afternoon
Motorcycle And Auto In Head On Collision
John (Mickey) Schany, 26, met death Friday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding collided with an automobile driven by Gilbert V. Osher, of Graettinger. The accident happened just south of the river bridge on Highway 17, south of Estherville.

The young man was killed instantly and his body landed at the point where the collision occurred. His motorcycle continued for 26 feet.

Just before the crash the motorcycle passed the Frank Shipley car which was also south bound. Leonard A. Barrett was driving a tractor and pulling a load of hay. He, too, was south bound. Mickey pulled in behind the load of hay but apparently could not stop and then started to pass the load. The accident happened beside the tractor.

William Tackett, who was working in his garden, heard the crash and looked up to see Mickey falling off the motorcycle. He said the machine then whirled around and around on the pavement. Mrs. Tackett also witnessed the accident.

Riding with Frank Shipley were Mrs. Virgil Shipley and Lucille Shipley. Riding with Mr. Osher were Mrs. Julia Nelson and Mrs. Kate Osher.

The remains were brought to the home of the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schany, of south of Graettinger, Saturday evening and were waked at the family home until the hour of the funeral Monday. Hundreds and hundreds of people from Graettinger and vicinity and from Emmetsburg and Estherville, called at the home.

The funeral was held Monday morning at 9:30 at Immaculate Conception church, Graettinger with the Rev. Father James Duhigg, of Estherville, officiating at the requiem high Mass. There was a very large attendance at the funeral and the spacious church was filled. Several priests were in the sanctuary and several Sisters from Holy Family hospital, Estherville, were in attendance at the funeral. Scores of beautiful floral bouquets surrounded the casket and many spiritual bouquets were given in memory of the young man.

Father Duhigg paid a very nice tribute to the memory of the deceased. He stressed his Catholicity and mentioned he was a daily communicant. He could not have paid a better tribute when he said “if an Estherville boy of that age was to be called by his Creator he did not know of anyone better prepared for death than Mickey Schany, who was known by many and loved by all who knew him.”

Burial was in St. John’s cemetery, Emmetsburg. Father Zensen, chaplain at Holy Family hospital, Estherville, officiated at the graveside services. Pallbearers were Bernard Higgins, Dick Jackman, Gene Cullen, Jack Kane, Jack Berger, and Gene Higgins, cousins of the deceased. Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Martin Funeral Service, Graettinger.

John J. Shaney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schany, was born on the old Shany farm in Walnut township, August 13, 1924. He attended rural school in his home community and was enrolled in Emmetsburg Catholic high school for a year before attending the Graettinger high school. Around ten or eleven years ago he was seriously injured when he fell into a buzz saw. The blade came within a fraction of an inch of reaching the brain. He was near death for weeks at the home of his grandparents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schany of Emmetsburg, formerly of Graettinger.

The sad death of the young many is mourned by his parents and by twelve brothers and sisters. They are Mrs. Al Johnson (Ruth), of Spencer; Mrs. Maurice Nitchals (Mary) of Des Moines; Ricard [Richard] who is with the U.S. Marines at San Diego; William and Robert of Graettinger; and Thomas, Joan, Gene, Helen, Pauline, Danny and Irene at home. Also surviving are four nephews and one niece.

The tragic death of John Schany has caused sadness in the community as well as sorrow in the home of his parents and his brothers and sisters. He was a popular young man. During his boyhood years while in grade school and high school a St. Mary’s later in Graettinger, he was liked by all his schoolmates. He was known as “Mickey” Schany and that nickname became a part of him. During the past six years he was employed at Holy Family hospital. His readiness to assist in any capacity he was able and his pleasant smile and his willingness endeared him in the hearts of all with whom he came in contact. The Sisters at Holy Family hospital were stunned by his tragic death. Little did he think last Friday afternoon when he started for home for a visit with his parents that he would be summoned by the angel of death in a matter of minutes.

Mickey was a dutiful and obedient son and a kind thoughtful, loving brother. He will be sadly missed, of course, but as time heals the pangs of sorrow, loved ones will realize that Mickey was perhaps spared much in life as human nature at its best is weak and the snares and pitfalls of life are numerous. There is every reason to believe he has been rewarded in eternity for the good deeds that filled his brief lifetime.

The Times extends sympathy to the grief stricken parents, brothers and sisters in their hour of sorrow.

Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John F. Hand, of Mohammon, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Scholtz, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Norbert O’Neill, of Rockford, Iowa; and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fries, of Superior, Iowa. There was a large attendance from Estherville and Emmetsburg as well as from Graettinger. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, July 5, 1951)