FRITZEL, Delbert 1904-1925

FRITZEL

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/21/2015 at 17:33:13

Delbert Fritzel Dies from Injuries Received in Fall

Grundy Center Young Man Meets With Fatal Accident At Holland

Light Pole Falls With Him

Injuries Prove Fatal Within Thirty-Six Hours After Happening Thursday

One of the most distressing accidents that has happened in this vicinity for a long time occurred at Holland about four o'clock last Thursday afternoon when Delbert Fritzel, of this city, was so seriously injured from a fall received while working on an electric light pole that he died early Saturday morning in the Deaconess hospital at Marshalltown.

Delbert had gone to Holland with John Cullinan to do some line work for the Central Iowa Light and Power Co., and Delbert was at work at the top of a pole near the Dirks corner in that town. Just what caused the accident no one knows as no one saw it, but this is known that while at work at the top of the pole, the pole broke near the ground and Delbert was precipitated with terrible force to the ground, striking on his head in the hard gravel road, and every indication is that the heavy pole fell across his head, fracturing the skull at the forehead.

He was strapped to the pole with the safety device used by linemen and could not free himself from the pole when it fell with him.

Immediately after the accident Delbert was brought to Grundy Center and a hasty examination made of his injuries. His mother, who was attending the funeral of a relative at Rockford, Iowa, was summoned and arrived home a few hours after the accident.

In the meantime Dr. Kaiser was called from Marshalltown in consultation with local physicians and it was decided to take him to a hospital in Marshalltown where it was hoped an X-ray could be taken and possibly an operation performed to relieve him.

But none of this could be done owing to the nature of his injury and he lingered until 12:45 Saturday morning when he passed away, having never gained consciousness after the accident.

Delbert Fritzel was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Fritzel. He was born on a farm in Pleasant Valley township, Grundy county, and was 20 years of age last October. His father passed away in 1915 and since then Delbert has made his home with his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Fritzel, in this city.

Delbert was an exceptionally fine young man and was held in the highest regards by all who knew him. He was a young man of clean morals, excellent habits and a good worker, and had for some time been employed by the Grundy Center Electric Co., and when that company was absorbed by the Central Iowa Light and Power Co., Delbert remained in the employ of the latter company and was regarded as one of its most trusty employees.

He leaves besides his mother, two brothers, John, who is at present City Marshal, and Gus, living on a farm northwest of Holland. There are also a number of other relatives here and elsewhere.

The bereaved mother and relatives have the united sympathy of the entire community in their great bereavement.

The funeral was held from the M.E. church at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon. Rev. George Woodall, of that church, officiating, assisted by Rev. H. F. Sinning, of the Second Presbyterian church.

The pallbearers were: Arthur Mertz, Arthur Dieken, Lloyd Morrison, Theo. Buchan, Franz Boven and Sidney Hummel, all boyhood friends of Delbert.

The music was furnished by a double quartet of young men from the choir of the East Side Presbyterian church, and a quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Waugh, Mrs. Howard Nickerson and Geo. B. Robinson.

The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful.

The church was filled to utmost capacity and indicated plainer than words the high esteem in which Delbert was held by all who knew him.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 18 June 1925, pg 1