Otto Kleppe, 1914-1941

KLEPPE, HACKETT, BARNESS, HOPE, EHLER, REISEM, OSTERHUS, CROWE, FINK

Posted By: Constance, IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 12/8/2014 at 09:48:11

The Fayette County Union
West Union, Iowa
Thursday, August 21, 1941
Page 1, column four

OTTO KLEPPE, 27, ACCIDENT VICTIM, DIES IN AUSTON
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Two West Union Families Figure in Auto Crash in Minnesota
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Otto Kleppe, 27, who lived on the Gordon Hackett farm north of West Union, died at 5:30 Monday morning in an Austin, Minn., hospital, where he and Mrs. Kleppe and their 14-months-old daughter, Ethel Mae, were taken after an automobile accident which occurred Saturday afternoon about 6 o'clock, as they were on their way to visit a relative near Austin.

MRS. KLEEPE HURT
Mrs. Kleppe had several ribs broken, and the little daughter sustained a broken leg in the accident.

Funeral service for Mr. Kleppe will be held Thursday from the home of his father-in-law, Ben Barness, four miles south of Ossian, at 1:30, and from the Bethany Lutheran church at 2, conducted by Rev. E.M. Reisem. Pallbearers will be Ben Barness, Peter Kleppe, Melvin Kleppe and Edwin Osterhus.

RIDING WITH NEIGHBORS.
Mr. and Mrs. Kleppe were riding in the car with Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Ehler, neighbors of the Kleppes, and their two children, Jerry 5, and Carroll 2 1/2. In the accident, Mr. Ehler sustained what was at first believed to be a broken back, but e-ray revealed that it was not so serious. Mrs. Ehler and the two children escaped with only slight injuries.

In the other car which collided with the Kleppe auto were Ole Fink, Rose Creek, Minn., and two companions. The other two men in the car were also seriously injured, and both cars were completely demolished.

ON VACATION.
Mr. and Mrs. Kleppe lived on the Gordon Hackett farm north of West Union, and the Ehlers were neighbors, living on the Daisy Crowe place. They had left their farm homes Saturday morning in the Ehler car, to visit a relative, Mrs. Mary Hope, about 15 miles from Austin, and were within three miles of their destination when the accident occurred.