LAUTERBACH, Paul 1926-1955

LAUTERBACH, VEENENDAAL

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/1/2016 at 12:56:33

Paul Lauterbach, Bridegroom For A Day, Was Killed In Car Accident

Paul Lauterbach, 29, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Uffe Lauterbach, was killed in an automobile accident near Oakland, Iowa, shortly after eleven o'clock Thursday forenoon. He and Phyllis Veenendaal from Pella, Iowa, were married at Pella the evening before. The couple spent the night in Des Moines and left Thursday morning in their car on a honeymoon trip to Colorado. Paul was killed outright from a broken neck. His bride, who was thrown from the car, suffered severe injuries. She was taken to a hospital in Council Bluffs where her injuries were treated. She was able to be brought to the Lauterbach home two days later.

Reckless driving on the part of Henry Hupp, 63, from Omaha, was the cause of the accident, with its tragic consequences.

Both cars were going west on a paved road. Hupp in attempting to pass the Lauterbach car caught the front bumper of the Lauterbach car with the rear of the Hupp car. Both cars were thrown out of control. The Lauterbach car turned twice end over end. Paul was thrown out at the first turn of the car. He was thrown a distance of 40 feet and struck on his head and broke his neck. Death was instantaneous. His bride was thrown out of the car when it made its second turn over. She received a brain concussion. The Hupp car was also turned over, but the drive escaped serious injuries.

Farmer Witnessed the Accident
A farmer residing near by saw the accident and he said that the Hupp car was going at terrific speed when it caught the bumper on the Lauterbach car. A highway patrolman who covered the accident placed the blame for it on the Omaha man. He was later given an alcoholic test, but the test confirmed his statement that he drank but a few beers earlier in the day.

Parents Notified
Paul's parents, at their home in Beaver township to which place they had returned after attending the wedding at Pella were notified of the death of their son and they were overcome by the shock. Soon thereafter they drove to Oakland and arranged to have the body prepared to be brought to their home. Neighbors and friends of the family were overwhelmed when they heard the shocking news and all of them extended their sympathy and offered what aid they could give to the grief-stricken relatives.

Funeral Service Monday
Funeral services were held at the home at 2:30 Monday afternoon, and at one o'clock at the Reformed church in Stout. The services were conducted by Rev. A. Roskamp, pastor of the church at Stout, assisted by Rev. P. Y. DeJong, pastor of the Christian Reformed church at Pella of which the bride is a member. He officiated at the wedding ceremony of the two. Burial was in the cemetery at Stout. The attendance at the church service was very large. It exceeded the seating capacity of the church.

Married in Pella Church
Paul Lauterbach and Phyllis Veenendaal were married by Rev. DeJong in the Christian Reformed church at Pella on the evening of September 14th. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Veenendaal. Members of the Lauterbach family from Grundy county were in attendance.

Plans had been completed for the young couple to occupy the home on the Lauterbach farm where the family had been living. The parents were going to move on a smaller farm nearby which they own, and they had expected to be moved by the time the young couple returned from their wedding trip. It is pathetic how these plans had to be changed in a few seconds as a result of the sudden and tragic death.

Paul Lauterbach was born Apr. 19, 1926, on a farm a mile west and a half-mile south of Stout. Later the family moved to their present farm six miles northwest of Dike. He attended school at Dike and graduated with the class of 1945. After completing his high school course he assisted his father on the farm. In October 1950 he entered the armed service. In January of the following year he was sent to Korea where he remained in the U.S. army until early 1952. He received his honorable discharge in July 1952 and after that time assisted in the operation of the Lauterbach farm.

Surviving aside from his wife of a day, are his parents and two sisters, Ruth, who is a student in a Dubuque college, and Gertrude, who is in nurse's training at Cedar Falls.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 September 1955, pg 1, 8