Delbert Tholen, Jr. 1965-1966

THOLEN, LOCKWOOD, RIENIETS

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/1/2021 at 07:57:57

28 July 1966 - Monticello Express

An 11-month old baby became Jones county's second traffic fatality of 1966 after a one-car accident and resulting fire on highway 151 two miles southwest of Cascade Monday afternoon. The baby, Delbert Tholen, Jr., died of suffocation from smoke inhalation at 4:45 p.m. Monday enroute to University hospitals, Iowa City. Burns covered 90 percent of his body.

The car was driven by his mother, Mrs. Delbert (Delores M.) Tholen of Route 2, Cascade. She suffered a fractured vertebrae, multiple head and neck injuries and a "crushing" chest injury. She was listed in fair condition when transferred from Monticello to St. Luke's hospital in Cedar Rapids Tuesday morning.

Another son of Mrs. Tholen's, William Lockwood, 7, a passenger in the car, suffered small lacerations of the forehead and an injured right shoulder. He was expected to be released from John McDonald hospital Tuesday night.

The accident occurred at 3 p.m. Monday when the left rear tire blew out on the 1960 Ford Mrs. Tholen was driving. The car was traveling southeast on the highway toward Cascade.

Mrs. Tholen lost control of the car and it skidded broadside 187 feet and jumped a four-foot culvert. It is believed to have rolled over before coming to rest against a fence ten feet from the culvert. The baby was thrown out of the car into the grass, which ignited when the car engine caught fire.

He was picked up and taken to John McDonald hospital in Monticello by two passersby, Gary Urban of Dubuque and Jack Otting of Bernard.

The Lockwood boy was brought to John McDonald hospital by Mrs. Ray Aldemann of Dubuque, Mrs. Lyons of East Dubuque and Mrs. Lieb of Route 1, Dubuque, who found him running down the road. Mrs. Tholen was brought to Monticello by the Cascade ambulance.

Delbert Allen Tholen, Jr., was born Aug. 19, 1965 at Monticello, the son of Delbert and Delores Rieniets Tholen, Route 2, Cascade.

He is survived by his parents; two half-brothers, Ted and William Lockwood; one half-sister, Nancy Marie Lockwood; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Rieniets of Monticello; and his paternal grandfather, Gerhart Tholen of Oxford Jct.

Services are pending at Goettsch Funeral home.

4 August 1966 - Monticello Express

MONTICELLO - Funeral services for Delbert Allen Tholen, Jr., 11-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Tholen of rural Cascade, where held at 2 p.m. last Thursday at Cascade Presbyterian church. Burial was held in the Cascade cemetery.

The baby died Monday, July 25, from injuries received in a one-car crash near Cascade.