William J. Maurer Jr. 1928-1981

MAURER, BEINKE, OIEN, GIPPLE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/25/2023 at 09:19:28

22 January 1981 - The Tipton Conservative

William John Maurer Jr., 52, Wilton farmer, was killed and his cousin, Norman Maurer, 52, was injured in an accident on Interstate 80, about 300 yards east of the Wilton interchange at approximately 3:30 p.m. Jan. 15.

Exactly how Bill Maurer was killed has not been determined by the highway patrol investigator. The 2 men, who live near each other southwest of Wilton had gone to the Darrell Ruggeberg farm sale northwest of Tipton where they had purchased a hog feeder, some sacks of feed and seed and several boxes of miscellaneous equipment. These had been placed in the back of the pickup truck.

The 2 men had stopped at the Cove and then drove east on the interstate. Just after they passed the rest area the yellow nylon rope that held down the frame of the hog feeder apparently broke, causing the feeder and some of the other material in the back of the pickup to spill out on the highway.

The patrolman said that Norman Maurer, who was riding beside Bill Maurer, got out of the truck and ran back west on the interstate while Bill Maurer backed the pickup up to where most of the equipment had been lost. Maurer moved the hog feeder out of the traffic lane.

At this point there is no evidence as to just what took place. Norman Maurer told the investigating officer that he did not see his cousin get out of the truck. All he remembered was being hit by something.

Ward Jensen, 62, a Rock Island, IL engineer, was driving east. He told the patrol that he remembered passing the rest area and the next thing that he remembered was striking something. He drove on to near the Wilton exit and then backed up to the scene of the accident.

Bill Maurer's body was approximately 60 feet in front of the pickup. Norman Maurer was either in or under the hog feeder with a severe gash on his head. The first persons on the scene moved Norman Maurer and also pushed the hog feeder south from where Norman Maurer had roiled it, half on the shoulder and half on the grass.

Norman Maurer was taken by ambulance to Mercy hospital, Iowa City.

Apparently no eye witnesses remained at the scene of the accident and the highway patrol would like to locate anyone who might have been a witness to the accident.

Laboratory tests are being conducted on the Jensen car and Bill Maurer's clothing. Several possibilities are under investigation, among them are whether Bill Maurer was struck by the car and his body then struck the hog feeder; whether the hog feeder was struck first and it hit the 2 men or if another vehicle may have been involved in the accident.

Funeral services for William John Maurer Jr., 52, were held at the United Presbyterian church, Wilton, Jan. 19 with the Rev. G. W. Ukena officiating. Burial was in Oakdale cemetery at Wilton. Masonic services were held Jan. 18 at the Gill-Lacock funeral home.

Pallbearers were Mike and Tony Mullink, David, Steve and Tommy Oien, Greg, Allen and Neal Nelson and Doug Maurer. Honorary pallbearers were Frank Nelson, Hans Carstens, Harlan (Hi) Marolf, Don Hansen, Rod Marolf and Melvin Hansen. Mel Norton was vocalist and Mrs. Sharon Bowers was organist.

Flower attendants were Jo Ann Kiser, Evelyn Hansen, Twila and Nancy Marolf.

Masonic and Moose lodge ceremonies were held at the Gill-Lacock funeral home Sunday.

The son of William J. Maurer Sr. and Edna Schroeder, he was born in Moscow township, Muscatine county Jan. 30, 1928 and attended the Wilton Schools. He was married to Kay Beinke at Wilton Sept. 12, 1959.

Mr. Maurer was born, raised and spent his entire life, with the exception of military service in Korea, on the same farm. He was an elder in the Wilton Presbyterian church, a trustee of Masonic Lodge AF&AM 167, Wilton, a past patron of Purity chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Wilton, the American Legion post at Wilton and the Muscatine Moose lodge.

He is survived by his wife, Wilton, 2 sons, Jeff, Atalissa and Dean, at home; 3 daughters, Lisa, Joyce and Jean, at home, a granddaughter; his mother, 2 brothers, Raymond, Moscow and Paul, Wilton; 2 sisters, Mrs. Lee (Mary) Oien, Wilton and Mrs. John (Linda) Gipple, Wapello and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father.