KIRCHGATTER, Robert Roy 1945-1961

KIRCHGATTER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/19/2009 at 21:31:24

#1:

ST. ANSGAR YOUTH TAKES LIFE MONDAY

Funeral services will be held Friday at the Methodist Church in St. Ansgar for Robert R. Kirchgatter, 16, who took his own life in the barn on the Kirchgatter farm northwest of St. Ansgar late Monday afternoon.

Death was caused by hanging, according to Dr. R. L. Whitley, Mitchell county medical examiner, who also stated that the boy suffered a broken neck. The rope had been secured to the barn rafter, according to Dr. Whitley, and the boy jumped about seventeen** feet from a platform.

Efforts by the St. Ansgar Fire Department Rescue Squad to save the boy were futile. Robert left the house at the family farm about 4:30 p.m. and he was found by his father about 5 p.m., according to Dr. Whitley.

Cause of his despondency was not known to the parents, according to the report.

The Rev Lloyd Brockmeyer, Pastor of the St. Ansgar Methodist Church, will be in charge of the services.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. [Carl] Ellery Kirchgatter, one brother and one sister.

[ Osage Press, Thursday May 11, 1961 ]

[Transcribed for IaGenWeb by Sharon Ivy, 2004]

**Mason City Globe Gazette May 9, 1961, reported the platform to be at a height of seven feet.
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#2:

RITES FRIDAY
FOR FARM YOUTH
AT ST. ANSGAR

ST. ANSGAR -- Funeral services for Robert Kirchgatter, 16, will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church here. The Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer will officiate. Schroeder and Houg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ellery Kirchgatter; a brother, Richard, Ames; a sister, Mrs. Virgil (Violet) Finlay, Otranto; and three nieces.

The youth took his own life by hanging from a rafter in the barn on their farm, three miles northwest of St. Ansgar. His parents have been unable to determine a reason for his action.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, May 10, 1961 - pg 29]
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His tombstone at St. Ansgar City Cemetery says Robert Roy Kirchgatter was born on 13 FEB 1945 and died 8 MAY 1961.

Photo of Tombstone on GPP
 

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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