HELFTER, John 1903-1967

HELFTER, REICHERTS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/27/2010 at 12:18:14

DEATHS OF JOHN, MERNA AND KENNETH HELFTER

#1 of 2 items:

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Tall Corn Blamed for Death of Two in Two-Car crash Near New Haven

NEW HAVEN, IOWA - Tall corn at a gravel intersection caused a two-car crash in which a New Haven couple died Wednesday evening, Mitchell County Sheriff Richard E. Jahnel said Thursday.

John Helfter, 64 and his wife, Merna Alice, 61, died at the scene of the accident of severe head injuries, Dr. L. A. Doyle, Mitchell County medical examiner ruled Wednesday night.

- Great-Nephew Died -

A New Haven youth who died in a car accident east of Osage Saturday night when his car struck a camper, Kenneth Helfter, 16, was a great-nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Helfter.

Services for the youth were Tuesday in the same New Haven Church where services for Mr. and Mrs. Helfter are planned.

A passing motorist discovered Mrs. Anna Reicherts, 62, of Dunkerton, driver of the second car, stumbling along the road shortly after the accident. in the direction of an abandoned farm house.

Mrs. Reicherts was reported in "good" condition Thursday in Mitchell County Memorial Hospital in Osage where she was taken for treatment of cuts and bruises and shock. She is the mother of LaVerne Reicherts, Waterloo city councilman.

The motorist, Clem Loecher reported the accident to the sheriff's office at 6:51 p.m. Wednesday.

Sheriff Jahnel said the two cars collided at a county road intersection four miles east of New Haven where tall corn obscured vision in all directions.

The Helfter 1958 model car rolled over one and one half times into the ditch where it came to rest on it's top. It was estimated a total loss.

Mrs. Reicherts 1966 model car remained on the road and received an estimated $300 damage.

- Near Destination -

Mrs. Reicherts had been driving to visit her brother-in-law and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Reicherts, who live less than a mile from the scene of the accident.

Highway Patrolman Lee Meinert of Cresco assisted the sheriff's office in investigation of the accident. Mr. and Mrs. Helfter are the ninth and tenth traffic fatalities in Mitchell County in 1967.

- Services set -

Funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Helfter have been tentatively set for Saturday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in New Haven, with burial in the church cemetery. The rosary will be recited for them 8 p.m. Friday in the church.

Mr. Helfter was a retired implement dealer, farmer and assistant in the Agricultural Stabilization and Conversation office in Osage. He had currently been assisting his brother Lorenz in the operation of a turkey ranch near New Haven, one of the largest turkey farms in the country.

Mr. and Mrs. Helfter were married April 13, 1926 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in New Haven and lived their married life in the area.

They are survived by two sons, Gene of Elma and James of Davenport; three daughters: Mrs. Norman Fox and Mrs. Richard Gilmore, both of Gulfport, Mississippi; and Mrs. Donald Clark of Orchard.

Mr. Helfter is survived by two brothers; Lorenz of New Haven and Joseph of St. Cloud, Minnesota; and a sister, Mrs. Howard Hawley of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mrs. Helfter is also survived by two brothers; Harold Coonradt of Orchard and Clarence of Denver, Colorado; and a sister, Mrs. Maurice Kathan Sr. of Osage.

Chisholm Funeral Home in Riceville is in charge of arrangements.

[Waterloo Daily Courier. Thursday, August 24, 1967]
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#2:

The St. Peter Catholic Cem. (New Haven) listing on IaGenWeb shows:

Helfter, John A. 1903 -- 1967; Married Apr. 13, 1925 Parents of Gene, Yvonne, Dolores, Ann, Jim

Helfter, Merna A. 1906 -- 1967 Married Apr. 13, 1925 Parents of Gene, Yvonne, Dolores, Ann, Jim