GRONWOLDT, Leonard Dale 1928-1964

GRONWOLDT, SOUHRADA, SUR, ROSS, HURST, PROHASKA

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 2/19/2012 at 10:13:53

Leonard Dale Gronwoldt 1928-1964

#1:

MR. AND MRS. LEONARD GRONWOLDT
OF IONIA KILLED;
2 CHILDREN ORPHANED

Killed in a collision of their car and a truck, Monday at 2 p.m. about eight miles west of New Hampton were Mr. and Mrs. Leonard D. Gronwoldt of Ionia, ages 36 and 27 respectively.

Mrs. Gronwoldt is the former Marlene Souhrada, daughter of Martin Souhrada of the Saratoga community. She is also survived by a brother, Darrell of Saratoga, and a sister; Mrs Marvin Gronwoldt of Riceville.

The Gronwoldt’s two sons, Leon age 3, and Lynsey, age 2, passengers with them in the car were injured, Leon critically, and he is now at Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo, with a compound depressed skull fracture. The other child is in fair condition in a New Hampton hospital.

The Gronwoldt car apparently pulled onto the highway from the north directly into the path of the westbound truck, according to the Iowa Highway Patrol officer. Driver of the truck, Clarence F. Widner, 81, of Des Moines, was not injured. Both car and truck ended up in the opposite ditch.

Gronwoldt and family had been in Riceville to participate in the marriage of Mrs. Gronwoldt’s sister to her husband’s brother.

Surviving Mr. Gronwoldt are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gronwoldt of Riceville; three brothers; Marvin of Riceville and Walter and Vern, both of Alta vista; three sisters; Mrs. Adolph Sur of rural New Hampton; Mrs. Paul Ross of Cresco; and Mrs. Esther Hurst of Colwell.

Services are pending through arrangements by the Chisholm Funeral Home of Riceville, former residence of the Gronwoldts.

[Lime Springs Herald, December 10, 1964]
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#2:

OBITUARY: Leonard & Marlene Joann Gronwoldt

SERVICES SET FOR VICTIMS OF ACCIDENT

RICEVILLE, IOWA - Double funeral services for Leonard Gronwoldt, 36, and his wife Marlene Joann Gronwoldt, 27, will be Friday at 1:P.M. at St. Peter's Lutheran Church here. Burial will be in Sunnyside Memorial Gardens, near Charles City, with Chisholm Funeral Home in charge.

They were killed Monday afternoon (Dec. 7, 1964) in a car-truck crash on Highway 18 near New Hampton. Their two sons, Leon, 3, and Lynsey, 2, are hospitalized with injuries suffered in the accident.

Leonard Gronwoldt was born in Alta Vista, the son of Henry and Dora Gronwoldt.

In addition to his sons he is survived by his parents in Riceville; four sisters, Mrs. Harold Hurst, Colwell; Mrs. Norma Bill, New Hampton; Mrs. Adolph Sir, Elma; Mrs. Paul Ross, Cresco; three brothers, Walter and Vern, Alta Vista; Marvin, Riceville.

Mrs. Gronwoldt's survivors include her sons, her father, Martin Souhrada, Lime Springs; a sister Mrs. Marvin Gronwoldt, Riceville; a brother, Darrell Souhrada, Lime Springs. She was preceded in death by her mother, Leona Souhrada, and a brother.

She was born in Cresco, Iowa, August 7, 1937.
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#3:

NOTE: Another newspaper article provided the following information:

"The impact carried both car and truck into the opposite ditch."

"Gronwoldt was an employee of the Oliver Corp. at Charles City. Ironically, however, he and his family had been in Riceville to participate in the marriage of Mrs. Gronwoldt's sister to her husband's brother."
(S. Bell)
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#4:

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Prohaska attended the funeral of Mr. and Mrs. Gronwoldt at Riceville. Mrs. Gronwoldt was a distant relative of Mr. Prohaska.

[Lime Springs Herald, December 24, 1964]
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#5:

OBITUARY
LEONARD AND MARLENE GRONWOLDT

Funeral services were held Friday, December 11, 1964, in the St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Riceville, for Leonard D. Gronwoldt, and his wife, Marlene J. Gronwold. Death came to them as a result of an auto accident Monday, December 7, 1964. Rev. R. D. Ehlers officiated at the double rites.

Leonard Dale Gronwoldt and Marlene Joann Souhrada were united in marriage on June 12, 1967, at St. Martin Lutheran Church of Davis Corners. They lived on a farm near Riceville until they moved to Chickasaw Village about two years ago.

LEONARD DALE, son of Henry J. Gronwoldt, and his wife Dora (nee Schade), was born April 13, 1928, at Alta Vista. He was baptized on June 1, 1930 at the Zion Lutheran Church of Alta Vista and was also confirmed there on March 29, 1942. He was graduated of the Riceville High School and served in the Armed Forces in Korea during the conflict there. For about 10 years he was employed at the Oliver Corporation in Charles City. He reached the age of 36 years, seven months and 24 days.

He was preceded in death by two sisters.

Survivors include two sons, Leon Leonard and Lynsey Lorell; his parents of Riceville; four sisters: Mrs. Harold (Esther) Hurst of Colwell; Mrs. Norma Bill of New Hampton, Mrs. Adolph (Edna) Sir of Elma; and Mrs. Paul (Alice) Ross of Cresco; three brothers: Walter of Alta Vista, Vern of Alta Vista; and Marvin of Riceville; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Casket bearers were Adolph Brunner, Sr., Richard Elliot, Lester Moore, Kenneth Spears, Dean Thompson and Wallace Torney. Burial was in the Sunnyside Memory Gardens, Charles City.

MARLENE JOANN Gronwoldt (Nee Souhrada), was born August 7, 1939, at Cresco, the daughter of Martin Souhrada and his wife, Leona (nee Merrill).

She was baptized in the St. Martin Lutheran Church of Davis Corners on March 14, 1955, and was confirmed in the same church on March 20, 1955. She graduated from the Riceville High School. She reached the age of 27 years and four months.

She was preceded in death by her mother and one brother.

Marlene Gronwoldt is survived by two sons Leon Leonard and Lynsey Lorell; her father of Lime Springs; one sister, Marlys, (Mrs. Marvin Gronwoldt) of Riceville; and one brother, Darrell of Lime Springs; also numerous other relatives and friends.

Casket bearers were Delmar Austinson, James L. Beran, Charles Brooks, Newell Hass, Harry Heins, and Harold Seidel, Sr. Burial was in the Sunnyside Memory Gardens, Charles City.

[Nashua Reporter, Thursday, December 31, 1964]
(SB)