KONKEN, Harm 1898-1932

KONKEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/8/2015 at 11:30:57

Harm Konken Kills Himself With Shotgun

Takes His Own Life in Barn Near His Home in Fern Early Monday Morning. Left No Note of Explanation

Harm Konken, who had been employed as helper in the creamery at Fern during the past nine years, committed suicide early Monday morning by shooting himself. He placed the muzzle of a 12-gauge shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The back of his head was blown off.

It had been the custom of Mr. Konken to get up between four and five in the morning to begin his work in the creamery. He got up at the usual time Monday morning and his wife believed that he had gone to work.

When he didn't appear at the creamery, for a long time after he was due, Byron Soles, manager of the creamery, went to the Konken home to learn why his assistant had not come to work. Mrs. Konken told him that he got up at the usual time and that she thought that he was at the creamery and that he would be back for his breakfast. Mr. Soles went to the barn back of the house to look for the missing man and he found him lying directly inside of the closed door.

The sheriff and the coroner were called out at once. The body was taken to the Engelkes funeral home for burial after the coroner was fully satisfied that the man had committed suicide. County Coroner L. D. Coffman did not regard an inquest necessary.

The body of the man fell backwards after the discharge of the gun. The gun was lying under him.

No cause of the suicide is known, though it is the belief of many that it was financial trouble. The man left no message, nor had he at any time given any indication that he had suicide on his mind. He was naturally of genial temperament, wholly agreeable and everyone liked him. He had a permanent job that was bringing him $30.80, which was enough in times like these to keep himself and his family from want.

Harm Konken was 34 years old. He was born in Beaver township and spent all of his life there. He was married ten years ago. He leaves a wife and three children. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Harm Konken, who live in Stout. There are two surviving brothers and six sisters. They are Henry and Sam Konken, Mrs. George Hempen, Mrs. Sam Cirksena, Mrs. Fred Helmers, Mrs. Hillert Bergman, Mrs. John Akkerman and Mrs. Henry Wiltfang, all residents of Grundy county. The children are Lois, 9, Lorraine, 6, and Harley, 6 months.

Funeral services will be held at the home at 12:30 on Thursday. Interment will be in the cemetery at Stout, and services in the Reformed church at Stout, in charge of Rev. Wm. Paulsen.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 December 1932, pg 1