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Bernard Higgins 1895 - 1948

HIGGINS, ANDERSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/9/2020 at 00:38:36

Onawa Weekly Democrat
15 July 1948

Bernard Higgins Electrocuted Here On Tuesday While Working on "Hot" Wire

TRAGEDY OCCURRED ABOUT NOON ON TUESDAY IN ALLEY BACK OF THE WAYNE SAMSON HOME

2400 Volts of Electricity Passed Through HIS Body.

Survived His Wife, Two Sons, His Mother, a Brother.

A terrible tragedy occurred in Onawa Tuesday about noon when Bernard Higgins, an employ of the City of Onawa was electrocuted while tying in a live wore on circuit running down the alley back of the Wayne Samson property. 2400 volts of electricity passed through the body of Mr. Higgins, killing him instantly.

Mr. Higgins who was an operator and lineman of the Municipal Light Plant in company with two other employees of the city, Vern McFee and Everett Sorenson had been working on the line all morning.

In order to recover the body of Mr. Higgins it was necessary to shut off the current, so that his body could be released and lowered to the ground.

Physicians who were in attendance almost immediately pronounced him dead.

Mr. Higgins was a valued and trusted employee of the city, where he had worked for the past eight years. His father the late Julius Higgins, had been employed by the city for 27 years prior to his death.

Mr. Higgins is survived by his widow and two sons, Leo who is in the service and stationed at Okinawa and Glen, who is attending college in Chicago; also his mother, Mrs. Gae Higgins of Onawa and a brother Vigorous Higgins of Storm Lake, Iowa.

In a conversation with Bernard only last Sunday the editor learned that he was planning a vacation. He and his wife and mother were planning to leave this Friday for a week or ten days stay in the Black hills. Mr. Higgins was a man of around 53 years of age.

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Onawa Weekly Democrat
22 July 1948

Funeral Services For Bernard E. Higgins -Held Here Monday

Bernard Everett Higgins, son of Julius and Gae Higgins, passed away on July 12th while working for the city of Onawa at the age of 53 years, 6 months and 10 days.

He was born at Castana, Iowa on January 3, 1895 and had always been a resident of Monona County. He was married to Hulda A. Anderson on June 5, 1918 and to this union two children were born. He was preceded in death by his father and one brother. The survivors are his widow, Hulda; 2 sons, Leo who is in the United States Army Air Force stationed at Okinawa; and Glenn, a war veteran who is attending school in Chicago; his mother, Mrs. Gae Higgins of Onawa; a brother Vigorous of Storm Lake, Iowa and 2 grandchildren.

During his early life Mr. Higgins attended the Castana school and later farmed in the vicinity of Castana, while there he was active in community affairs, acting as school director, Secretary of the Farmers Union a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, and Monona County Farm Business.

In 1929 he brought his family to Onawa where he worked for the North Western Railway, the County Bridge Department and the Shell Service Station which stood where the present Onawa Bowling Alley now stands. In 1913 he moved to a farm east of Whiting where he was employed by Glenn Wharton of Omaha. Early in 1936 he was transferred to the Dike farm east of Onawa where he remained until the early part of 1942. At that time he moved into the city of Onawa, taking over the Cities Service Gas Truck for a short time. He then was employed by the' city where he remained until his death.

He was a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, Rebekahs, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Methodist church, the Onawa Chamber of Commerce, Onawa Fire Department and until recent years was very active in 4-H work as a leader.

Mr. Higgins leave his many dear friends and family who mourn his passing.

Funeral services were held on Monday at 2 p. m. at the Methodist church in Onawa with Rev. Albert Howe officiating. Mrs. Wm Barnard sang "The Lord's Prayer" and the "Old Rugged Cross" accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Clara Kelley. Monona Lodge, No. 380 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows were in charge of the committal services at the Onawa cemetery, with John Tyson Noble Grand.

Pallbearers were George Strunk Ray Adkins, Gunner Olson Ernie Holsclaw, Vern McFee and Everett Sorenson. Arrangements were in care of the Pearson Funeral Home.


 

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