Klaver, Harlan Dean (1934-1953)

KLAVER, MAMMINGA

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 11/11/2014 at 09:33:49

Daily Freeman Journal, Monday, July 27, 1953

Crash Kills Kamrar Youth

Harlan Klaver Among 8 Killed Over Weekend

Fell Asleep at Wheel and Collided with Semi-Trailer

A collision with a semi-trailer truck at 1:04 a.m. Sunday took the life of Harlan Dean Klaver, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. [Harm & Esther Mamminga] Klaver, of near Kamrar.

The accident occurred on Highway 69, south of Story City. Klaver was driving north in a 1951 Plymouth.

Highway patrol officers said they believed Klaver had fallen asleep at the wheel and started to go off the road. He recovered and attempted to bring the car back to the road, but went out of control and headed directly at the truck, going south.

The car and the truck smashed almost head-on, killing Klaver instantly. The truck driver, Frank K. Thorne, 31, of Des Moines, was only slightly injured. Klaver's car was demolished and the truck was badly damaged on the front end.

His death was one of eight totaled in the state over the weekend, raising to an all-time high of 66 the number of persons killed in motor vehicle accidents in the state during July. The previous high was 59 traffic dead during July of 1950.

The latest fatalities also brought the state's 1953 toll to 208 as compared with 275 on this date last year.

Funeral services for Klaver will be at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the family home 4-1/2 miles northeast of Kamrar and at the Presbyterian church east of Kamrar at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. August Cramer will officiate. Burial will be in the Presbyterian cemetery.

The body will lie in state at the Foster Funeral home in Webster City until Tuesday morning.

Harlan Dean Klaver was born Nov. 6, 1934 on a farm east of Kamrar. He was educated in the Kamrar schools and graduated with the class of 1952. Since his graduation he had been helping his parents on the family farm.

He is survived by his parents, two brothers and a sister, Delmar and Lee, and Joan, all living at home. His grandmother, Dena Klaver of Blairsburg, also survives, with several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Harlan was a well-known and well-liked youth in Kamrar who had always been active in school affairs. He attended the Presbyterian church.