AUEN, Mearl J. 1926-1957

AUEN

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/20/2013 at 03:01:25

[Ida County Pioneer Record, Ida Grove, Iowa, Thursday, February 14, 1957, p.1]

Ida Grove Man
Killed In Auto
Crash February 6

Final rites were held for Mearl Jack Auen, 31, last Friday, February 8, at 2 p.m. in Winebrenner Church of God here. Rev. Wilson officiated and burial was in the Ida Grove cemetery.

Auen was killed in a fiery automobile crash about 8 miles north of Ida Grove on highway 59 on Wednesday evening, February 6 at approximately 9 o'clock. Morris R. Hasbrouck, 24, Ida Grove, who was driving the car sustained bruises on his left leg and severe shock as a result of the accident. According to Ida county sheriff George Miller and deputy Joe Houser who investigated the mishap, the two men were travelling north on highway 59 and as they came over a hill top the 1957 model car struck a patch of ice. The car slid out of control to the west side of the highway where it left the road, hit a concrete flume and abutment, rolled endover-end, and lit on its top facing south in a livestock pen.

The car caught fire immediately and was nearly consumed by flames before they were quenched by the Holstein fire department. It is reported that Hasbrouck was pinned by the wreckage but managed to free himself before the flames had engulfed the car and got away to safety. Jack Auen was believed to have been killed instantly when he was trapped by the car.

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[Ida County Pioneer Record, Ida Grove, Iowa, Thursday, February 14, 1957, p.18]

Mearl Jack Auen, son of Dick and Mathilda Auen, was born February 14, 1926. at Ida Grove. The family lived for brief intervals at Wall Lake, Early and West Side. Most of his youth was spent near Denison and West Side until he entered the United States Navy and spent 22 months in service. He was discharged in December, 1947.

He was married to Norma Kinzer, March 10, 1951 at Ida Grove and to the couple was born one daughter, Mary Lyne, who is now two years old. The Auens lived on farms near Ida Grove since their marriage. Jack was currently employed by Mid-West Industries.

Jack died as the result of a tragic car accident February 6, when the car in which he was riding went out of control.

He is survived by his wife, Norma; one daughter, Mary Lyne; his parents, Mr and Mrs Dick Auen; three sisters, Mrs Clarence (Margaret) Dreessen of West Side, Mrs Clayton (Edna) Brotherson of Breda and Mrs Harold (Emogene) Hansman of Vail; five brothers: Arnold of Wall Lake, Ivan of Ida Grove, Herbert of Sac City, Wallace of Denison and, Richard, who is in the Navy at San Diego.

Vocal music was furnished by Harriet Laursen and Virginia Weilendorf. Pallbearers were Walter Voege, Clifford Drcessen, Harold Godbersen, Melvin Dixon, Byron Godbersen and Burroughs Conover.