RETTERATH, David ca.1950-1960

RETTERATH, FIRSCHING

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/25/2010 at 15:52:12

OSAGE, IOWA — Two young Mitchell County residents were killed Thursday in separate accidents involving upset vehicles on county roads.

The incidents occurred within a period of 30 minutes and were only about 10 miles apart.

Jean Mares Mostek, 20, Mitchell who made headlines last fall by shooting the family's pet black bear after it wandered away from home and was wounded by a deputy sheriff, was crushed under her father's truck about 4½ miles southeast of St. Ansgar.

David Retterath, 10, rural Stacyville, was killed when the farm tractor he was driving overturned on a county road about two miles northeast of Stacyville,

Mitchell County sheriff's officers said Miss Mostek attempted to leap from a 2½ ton truck loaded with coal and scrap iron as it started to overturn. She was trapped under the vehicle as it toppled on its side in a ditch.

Her father, Jerry, and her brother, Jerome, 10, remained in the cab and were not hurt. Mostek said the heavy but loosely packed load shifted to the right side of the truck, causing it to tip over.

DR. R. L. Whitney, Mitchell County coroner, said the cause of death was a crushed chest.

Surviving are her parents, a brother, Jerome; a sister, Mrs. Glenn Breckenridge, all of Mitchell; grandparents, Joseph Mostek, Mitchell; Mrs. Eda Winterton, St. Ansgar and George Winterton, Northwood.

Funeral services are pending at the Faith Lutheran Church, Mitchell. Champion Funeral Home, Osage, is in charge of arrangements.

David Retterath had been hunting with his older brothers. He was returning home on the tractor while the older boys walked, carrying the guns. He lost control of the tractor, which overturned in a ditch, pinning him beneath the seat. Minutes later the accident was discovered by a neighbor, Jack Koster, who found him dead.

Patrolman Art Jounker reported that he died of a broken neck.

The boy's father, a bee keeper and honey dealer, was on a sales trip and it was several hours before he could be located to advise him of the accident. The victim was the son of Mr.and Mrs. Bernard Retterath.

He is survived by his parents, five brothers, Pfc. Bernard Jr., in Germany; Steven, Billy, Tom and Bob, all at home; his grandmother, Mrs, Theresa Firsching, Stacyville.

Funeral services will be Monday at Visitation Church, Stacyville. Hatten Funeral Home, Stacyville, is in charge.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Friday, December 30, 1960]