Bahrenfuss, Benjamin Buryl (1894-1936)

BAHRENFUSS, DOOLITTLE

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 10/7/2021 at 15:14:22

Webster City Freeman, Webster City, Iowa, Monday, February 3, 1936

FATALLY HURT IN COLLISION

B.B. Bahrenfuss in Truck When Train Hits It at Stonega

SERVICE TOMORROW

Funeral services for B.B. Bahrenfuss, 41, who was fatally injured in a train-truck collision at Stonega Saturday evening will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock at Foster's funeral home. Burial will be made in Graceland cemetery, Rev. G.E. McCanon and Rev. Manson E. Miller will officiate.

Bahrenfuss, who lives five miles north of Stonega, had gone to the Stonega elevator with his nine year old son Robert and Ed Olson to get some coal. The coal car was on the siding alongside the coal sheds and Bahrenfuss drove his truck along the other side of the car which did not afford clearance on the main line of the Illinois Central railroad.

They had not started to load the truck with coal when Mr. Hage, who manages the elevator and also is agent for the railroad, warned Bahrenfuss that he had better move the truck in case a train came along.

Soon a westbound freight was seen approaching and Bahrenfuss got into the truck and started to back it away from alongside the coal car. He apparently had trouble in trying to get the truck out of danger and Hage ran down the track and tried to flag the train. However, the engineer was unable to stop the train in time and the locomotive hit the front end of the car which was said to be on the main line track.

For some unexplainable reason, Bahrenfuss failed to get out of the truck before it was hit by the engine. The truck was reduced to a twisted mass of wreckage when rolled between the engine and coal car. The freight was brought to a stop in about two car lengths and Bahrenfuss was lifted from the wreckage and an ambulance summoned.

At the hospital it was found Bahrenfuss had suffered a fractured skull, crushed chest and fractured left arm as well as innumerable other injuries. He did not regain consciousness and died yesterday morning at 3:05 o'clock.

Benjamin Buryl Bahrenfuss, son of W.H. and Lina Bahrenfuss, was born at Tama, Iowa, Oct. 8, 1894, and passed from this life at 3:05 o'clock, Sunday morning, Feb. 2, 1936 at the hospital in Webster City.

When a boy the family moved to Webster City where he received his education. After he finished school he spent some time working as a plumber. Later he was employed in the restaurant with his father.

On Dec. 25, 1914 he was united in marriage with Miss Elva Doolittle at Webster City. In March, 1916, they moved to their farm home northeast of this city where they have since resided.

Mr. and Mrs. Bahrenfuss were the parents of eight children, five daughters and three sons. They are: Leila, Mae, Eleanore, Jean, Shirley, Robert, Lee and Keith.

Mr. Bahrenfuss attended and contributed to the church at Mulberry Center. He was a loving companion, kind father and true friend.

Besides the wife and children, Mr. Bahrenfuss leaves one sister, Miss Mae Bahrenfuss, of Chicago, and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his loss.

His parents preceded him in death.