Herman Siefken 1903-1960

SIEFKEN, RICHERT, PIEPER, MCCONAUGHY, CLODT, TAPKEN, MORGAN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 2/13/2020 at 08:50:14

14 April 1960 - The Anamosa Eureka

MORLEY--Herman Siefken, 57, was found dead in a garage at his home in Morley Wednesday, and his death has been termed a suicide.

Siefken, a widower, was employed in Cedar Rapids, but has been unable to work in recent weeks because of illness. He was reportedly despondent due to his health.

Francis Smith, who operates a service station near the Siefken home, made the discovery Wednesday shortly before noon. Siefken's death is believed to have occurred approximately 24 hours before discovery was made.

Authorities state that a blanket had been placed across a crack in the garage doorway. Ignition switch of Siefken's car was on, but the vehicle was not running and the battery was reportedly dead.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 1, at 2 p.m., at the Morley E.U.B. church. Burial will be in Forest cemetery.

He was born Jan.9, 1903, at Wessington Springs, S.Dak. He was married to Beryl Richert, Sept. 1, 1926, at Sioux Falls, S. Dak. Couple farmed in South Dakota for ten years then moved to a farm near Martelle in 1936. They moved to Morley in 1946. For the last nine years he was employed at Iowa Mfg. Co., Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include two daughters, Doris, Mrs. Kenneth Pieper and Jean, Mrs. Kenneth McConaughy, both of Morley; his mother, Mrs. Louisa Clodt, Wessington Springs, S. Dak.

Other survivors include two brothers, August Siefken, Sunnyside, Wash.; and George Siefken, Wessington Springs, S. Dak.; one sister, Mrs. Emma Tapken, Wessington; one half-brother, Chris Clodt, Fullerton, Calif.; one half-sister, Miss Viola Clodt, Farmingdale, S. Dak.

Others are two step-brothers, Erich and Carl Clodt, both of California; one step-sister, Mrs. Dora Morgan, Farmingdale, S. Dak.; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1953, and one daughter in 1929.