Gersema, Karen Jean (1955-1967)

GERSEMA, DEAN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/14/2015 at 16:36:27

Daily Freeman Journal, Wednesday, June 7, 1967

2 Webster City Residents Killed in Crash

Auto, Truck In Collision Near Hampton

A virtual head-on crash between a car and a gasoline delivery truck yesterday afternoon near Hampton took the lives of Mrs. Norman (Betty) Richardson, 39, and Karen Gersema, 12, both of this city.

Critically injured with head injuries was Mr. and Mrs. Richardson's daughter, Julie Richardson, 12, who was rushed to Mercy hospital in Des Moines following the crash to
undergo surgical treatment.

The driver of the truck, Ernest Hopkey of Hampton, reportedly suffered a minor arm injury in the accident which occurred at 2:30 pm two miles west of Hampton. A car, a 1967 convertible, was virtually demolished by the impact, and the front of the gas truck, owned by Farm Service, was heavily damaged.

Highway Patrolman Carl Condon and Franklin County Sheriff Ralph Jones, assisted by other patrol members, investigated the tragedy which occurred at the intersection of Highway
3 and what is known as the Stevens St blacktop

Both vehicles were on Highway 3 according to the investigating officials, with Mrs. Richardson heading west out of Hampton and the truck coming around a curve from the west.

Mrs. Richardson was wedged in the front seat of the wrecked auto, and the two girls were found in the back seat, according to investigating officers.

Mrs. Richardson had been employed as a bookkeeper at Held and Symens, Inc , in Webster
City since January. According to officials of the local implement firm, Mrs. Richardson had driven to Hampton to pick up some farm machinery parts and was returning to
Webster City with them. She had decided to take the two girls, both neighborhood friends, along for the ride.

Karen Gersema's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Gersema were reportedly on a vacation trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, having just arrived in Nevada Monday evening.

Late this morning, Mercy hospital officials in Des Moines reported that Julie Richardson was still in critical condition and was a patient in the intensive care ward.

Rites to Be Held Friday For Victims

Funeral services for Karen Jean Gersema, 12. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Gersema, will be at 3 pm Friday at the Foster Funeral home with Rev. S. Willard Cunningham officiating. Burial will be made in the New Hartford, Iowa, cemetery.

Karen Jean Gersema, daughter of Donald and Barbara Dean Gersema was born Feb. 27. 1955 at Waverly, Iowa. When she was a small girl, she moved with her parents to Greene, Iowa, living there for three years before moving to Cedar Falls. She began her elementary schooling at Cedar Falls, then moved to Webster City with her family July 1, 1963. She had attended Lawn Hill school and just completed sixth grade.

She is survived by her parents and two sisters, Vicki and Donna Gersema, both at home; the paternal grandmother, Mrs. Jennie A. Gersema, Cedar Falls, and the maternal grandparents,
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Dean, Fayette. Iowa

She attended the Methodist church.