GOHNER, Eldon 1911-1957

GOHNER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:16

Heart Attack Fatal To Wellsburg Man

The people of Wellsburg and community were shocked to hear of the death of Eldon Gohner who died at 6:00 a.m. at his home in the west part of town of a heart attack. He was stricken early Monday morning at about 5:00 a.m. but was able to get to the phone to call the doctor. When the doctor arrived he advised Mr. Gohner to go to the hospital by ambulance. However, he died before he could be taken to the hospital. He attained the age of 46 years, 2 months and 9 days.

On January 22, 1911 Mr. Gohner was born of Ernest and Susie Gohner in Grundy County, Iowa. Here he attended country school and later the Wellsburg High School from which he graduated. He lived in this community all his life. In 1950 he moved to his present home in Wellsburg. For about seven years he had been employed as a driver of one of the school buses of the Wellsburg school.

He made confession of his faith in the Ivester Church of the Brethren, south of Wellsburg but of late years he faithfully attended the Wellsburg Reformed Church.

Mr. Gohner entered the United States Armed Forces on February 20, 1942 and served most of his time in the Pacific area. He was discharged on October 31, 1945.

He leaves to mourn his one brother Harry of Manhatten Beach, California; two nieces, (Geraldine) Mrs. Bob Ashley of Des Moines and (Janet) Mrs. Jack Haller of Grimes. There are also other relatives and a host of friends who mourn his passing. Preceding him in death was his father in January 1948 and his mother in January 1950.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 1957, at the Reformed Church with Rev. George C. Poppen officiating. A men's quartet, Irwin Abels, Alle Murra, Eugene Ruter and Marvin Stahl will sing two selections at the funeral service. Miss Marcella Neessen will be organist. Flower attendants will be Mrs. M. M. Boeke and Mrs. Harry Heddens. Pall bearers will be Louis Akkerman, M. M. Boeke, Tom Flessner, Henry Dean Geerdes, Harry Heddens and Willard Riekena.

The casket will be opened before the time of the service at the church. It will not be opened after the service. Interment will be made in the Sheller Cemetery where a military service will be conducted by Wellsburg Amvet Post 91.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 4 April 1957, pg 1

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Eldon Gohner Dies Of A Heart Attack Monday Morning

Eldon Gohner, 46, died suddenly from a heart attack at his home in Wellsburg about 5 o'clock Monday morning.

Gohner's death comes as a great shock to the entire community, for he was greatly respected by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, and he had a wealth of friends throughout northwest Grundy county.

He first complained of chest and arm pains about three weeks ago, which he thought was a touch of pleurisy. However a medical examination showed that he actually was suffering from a heart condition.

About 5 a.m. Monday he called Dr. Meyer and asked him to come to his house right away since he was having severe chest pains. The doctor rushed to the house to give him emergency treatment, then called Harold Engelkes at Grundy Center to bring his ambulance at once so the man could be taken to the county hospital.

Gohner died before the ambulance arrived.

Eldon Gohner was born January 31, 1911 near Ivester, the son of Ernest J. and Susie Gohner. He was reared on the Gohner farm in Melrose township, and attended Wellsburg high school. He graduated with the class of 1928.

Following his graduation he began farming five miles south of Wellsburg in Melrose township, now known as the Lee Minnich farm, where he remained until he moved to Wellsburg about seven years ago.

At the time of his unexpected death, Gohner farmed 80 acres of land in Lincoln township and was driving a school bus for the Wellsburg Community School, a position he had held for a number of years. He also had served at one time as an assistant to Fred Gross as janitor at the school.

Eldon served four years in the Army during World War II, and at one time or another had been a member of both the Wellsburg Amvet and American Legion posts.

He was a member of the Ivester Church of the Brethren, and during the past few years had attended the Reformed Church in Wellsburg.

The only surviving member of his immediate family is a brother, Harry Gohner, of Manhattan Beach, Calif. Harry and wife arrived in Des Moines by plane Monday evening and came to Wellsburg to make funeral arrangements.

Also surviving are several nieces, aunts and uncles, including Frank Gohner of Eldora and Willis Luitjens of Shell Rock.

Funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Wellsburg Reformed church. Burial in Sheller cemetery in Melrose township, where his parents are buried.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 4 April 1957, pg 13