PETERMAN, Dorothy Irene 1923-1934

PETERMAN, KETELSEN

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 5/15/2015 at 17:51:07

Dorothy Irene Peterman was born on May 30, 1923 at Mitchell County, Iowa to parents Louis Frank Peterman and Maria Anna Ketelsen, the second of their eleven children.

Found in the 1925 census living at Mitchell, Mitchell, Iowa: Louis Peterman 20, Mary Peterman 22, Gene Peterman 3, Dorathy Peterman 1.

Her parents moved the family to Wisconsin.

Found in the 1930 census living on a farm at Erin, Washington, Wisconsin: Louis F Peterinan 26, Mary A Peterinan 27, Jean E Peterinan 7, Dorothy I Peterinan 6, Maxine Peterinan 3 yrs 6 mos, Betty Peterinan 2 yrs 6 mos.

Dorothy died as a result of severe burns on January 11, 1934 at St Joseph's Hospital at Erin, Washington, Wisconsin. She was buried at Saint Patrick's Cemetery, Thompson, Washington, Wisconsin.
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There is a memorial for her at Find a Grave #146510077.
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News article from a 1934 Wisconsin newspaper:

"Dorothy Peterman is Victim of Tragedy; Dress Caught Fire While Warming Self at Stove; Buried Monday."

From her clothes having caught fire as she warmed herself at the stove in the family dining room, early Friday morning, Dorothy Irene Peterman, the 11 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Peterman of the town of Erin, was so badly burned that she died at St. Joseph's hospital at 1:30 the same afternoon.

When the girl became enveloped in flames, other children of the Peterman family ran to the barn to summon the parents and brother to the scene. Arriving at the house, the father smothered the flames by wrapping his jacket about the girl. She was then rushed to St. Joseph's hospital of their city. Examination revealed that two/thirds of her body had been scarred by the fire. The Petermans were tenants on a farm belonging to the Sauerhering Estate, located on County Trunk P, six miles southeast of Hartford.

Funeral services for Dorothy were held Monday morning at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's church, Thompson, the parish in which the Peterman family held membership. Burial followed in the cemetery of that congregation. The Requiem Mass was conducted by the Rev. Corbinian of the Carmelite Order at Holy Hill. Dorothy is survived by her grief-stricken parents, by an older brother, Eugene (age 13), and by the following younger sisters: Maxine 8, Betty 6, Ruby 4, Florence 2, Colleen 8 months.

The Peterman family formerly were residents of the state of Iowa where Dorothy was born at St. Ansgar. From there they came to Milwaukee. Following their stay in that city, they moved to this locality, and for the last five years, have resided on the farm on County Trunk P., belonging to the Ed Sauerhering estate.

Members of the family have the sympathy of the entire community in the tragedy which has entered their home.