GEIKEN, Robert 1942-1964

GEIKEN, REWERTS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/26/2015 at 21:13:23

Wellsburg Youth Killed Instantly In Car Crash On Highway 57 Thursday

Robert Geiken, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Geiken, living 2 miles west and a mile and a half north of Wellsburg, was killed instantly about 10:30 last Thursday night when he failed to stop and his car shot across the paving on Primary 57 and plunged into an embankment by the side of the road.

The young man was on his way home. He was driving south from Stout on a gravel road that extends 4 miles south from Stout to Primary 57.

It was the belief of the officers who investigated the case that the driver was going at a high speed and did not see the stop sign near the paving until his car shot across it. The car plowed into the embankment and then righted itself and stopped in a farm field. It was a 1962 Chevrolet car and it was left a complete wreck and was later taken to Dike.

Highway Patrolman Hauser of Allison arrived at the scene of the accident shortly after it happened. Highway Patrolman Richard Lenius arrived a short time later. Dr. J. E. Rose, Grundy County Medical Examiner, was called. He believed the young man died instantly from a crushed chest and other injuries. He also received a compound fracture of one of his legs.

The Engelkes funeral home ambulance was called and brought the body to the Engelkes funeral home in Grundy Center. Later the body was taken to the Doyen funeral home at Wellsburg where funeral arrangements were made.

The County Sheriff's office was notified. A member of the sheriff's staff drove to the Geiken home to bring the news of the young man's death to his parents. Rev. G. Wolbrink from the Wellsburg Reformed church at Wellsburg accompanied the officer to the home to bring the sad news to the parents.

The front end of the car was bent backwards and crushed the driver in his seat.

Was Ready For Military Service
Robert Geiken would have been 21 years old this month. He was ready to enter the U.S. military service. He had been employed by the Mid-Equipment Company at Wellsburg as a carpenter.

The death of Robert Geiken was the second highway fatality in Grundy county this year. The death of Darrell Thoren near his home in Holland was the first car accident tragedy of the year.

Funeral services for Robert Edward Geiken were held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Doyen Funeral Home and at 1:30 p.m. at the Wellsburg Reformed church, with Rev. Gideon Wolbrink in charge.

Burial was in the Wellsburg Reformed church cemetery.

--funeral details unreadable on online source--

Robert Edward Geiken, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Geiken, was born on a farm 1 1/2 miles north of Wellsburg on April 25th, 1942. He lived with his parents on several farms in Grundy county and for the last 15 years lived on the present farm place 1 1/2 miles northwest of Wellsburg.

He received his early schooling in the rural schools and later entered the Wellsburg grade school. In May of 1961 he was graduated from Wellsburg high school.

His earthly life came to a sudden and unexpected end on Wednesday, April 15, 1964, around 11 o'clock p.m. in an automobile accident on Highway 57, four miles west of Dike. He reached the age of 20 years, 11 months and 20 days.

He was a member of the Wellsburg Reformed Church, having made confession of faith August 6, 1961.

Those who survive him are: his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Geiken of Wellsburg; one brother, Richard, at home; 1 sister, Carol, at home, and the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rewerts of Parkersburg, besides a host of relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Geiken.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 23 April 1963, pg 1,12