GERCHAS, Raymond Joseph 1931-1949

GERCHAS

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 3/1/2012 at 11:36:43

Raymond Joseph Gerchas

March 20, 1931 – July 27, 1949

#1

DROWNS IN WAPSIPINICON

Riceville, Ia. – Raymond Gerchas, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gerchas, drowned Wednesday, shortly after noon, at the swimming hole in the Wapsipinicon River just south of McIntire, where he and Robert Miller had driven from the Gerchas farms northeast of Riceville. Roberts father, Fred Miller, operated one of the Gerchas farms, near that place.

The boys had been in the water, wading about, only a short time when Raymond, who was learning to swim, stepped from the shallow water into a 10-foot hole. He called for help as he went down and Robert, who is 14, immediately dove in after him. Robert says that Raymond grasped him and pulled him under and he “had to slip away” to save himself. Raymond was 6 feet tall and weighed around 200 pounds.

Robert screamed for help and ran toward the John Antonovich farm, a short distance away. The latter’s son, Henry, home from Chicago, Illinois, for a visit, his wife and Mrs. Antonovich, Sr., were already on their way to the swimming hole as they had heard the cries and it was only a few minutes before Henry located the body and brought it to the bank.

He and the others applied artificial respiration but the young man was dead by the time Dr. Thomas Walker, Riceville, arrived. Dr. E. L. Whitley, Mitchell County Coroner, pronounced the death accidental drowning.

Raymond was a member of the 1949 graduating class and had planned to attend college this fall. He was prominent in athletics, playing football four years, basketball three years, and baseball three years during his course. He was also a member of the mixed glee club.

Surviving are his parents and two sisters, Julia and Helen, of Chicago, Illinois.

The body was taken to the Martz Funeral Home at LeRoy, Minnesota. Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Riceville. Burial will be in Mason City, Iowa.

The Gerchas family, originally from Lithuania came to this community from Mason City 15 years ago.
After the war, they financed the trip to the United States of 15 European displaced persons.

Source: Waterloo Courier, Thursday July 28, 1949.
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#2:

Raymond Joseph Gerchas was born March 20, 1931, the son of Joseph James and Helen Gerchas.
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#3:

RICEVILLE YOUTH
DROWNED WEDNESDAY
IN SWIMMING HOLE

Raymond Gerchas, teen-age son of Joe Gerchas of Riceville, drowned Wednesday afternoon wile swimming with a companion in a stream south of McIntire.

The companion, Robert Miller, 14, tried to save Raymond, but he was dragged under the surface by the current. The body was recovered a short time after the accident.

Source: Mitchell County Press, July 28, 1949.
(Credit: K. Kittleson)
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#4:

SERVICES HELD
SATURDAY FOR
RIVER VICTIM

Raymond Gerchas, 18,
Lost Life Swimming
In Wapsipinicon

Funeral services for Raymond Gerchas, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gerchas of Riceville, were held in Immaculate Conception Catholic church at Riceville Saturday, July 31, at 9 a.m. Burial was in Mason City. Raymond drowned early Wednesday afternoon at a swimming hole in the Wapsipinicon rive south of McIntire.

He and Robert Miller, whose father, Fred Miller, operated one of the Gerchas farms, had been in the water only a short time when the accident occurred. Raymond, who was just learning to swim, waded from shallow water into a 10-foot hole. S he went down, he called for help, but Robert, who is 14, was unable to save him.

Robert said, Raymond pulled him under and that he "had to slip away" to save himself. Raymond weighted around 200 pounds. Robert then ran to the John Antonovich farm, where he met Henry Antonovich. Mrs. Henry Antonovich, and Mrs. John Antonovich as they were on their way to the swimming hole. In a short time Henry, who was home from Chicago for a visit with his parents, found the body and brought it to shore.

Although Antonovich and others applied artificial respiration, Raymond was dead when Dr. Thomas Walber, Riceville, arrived. Dr. R.L. Whitley of Osage, Mitchell county coroner, pronounced the death due to accidental drowning.

Raymond graduated from Riceville high school in 1949 and planned to attend college this fall. He was active in high school activities, he played football four years and baseball and basketball three years. He also sang in the mixed glee club.

Raymond is survived by his parents and two sisters, Julia and Helen, both of Chicago.

Source: Mitchell County Press - August 4, 1949
(Credit: K. Kittleson)
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#5:

Find A Grave Memorial: Elmwood Saint Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa
Raymond J. Gerchas – March 20, 1931 – July 27, 1949

Findagrave Memorial with Tombstone photos
 

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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