Charles Weist (1882-1954)

WEIST, WEST, STANOVER, POWERS, BERRY

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

An elderly Hartley couple were found dead in bed together Monday morning. After a thorough investigation, death was attributed to natural causes.

Charles Weist, 71, and his wife, 69, apparently died of heart attacks, according to Dr. Arnie Knutsen, pathologist of St. Joseph Mercy hospital in Sioux City, who was asked to make an autopsy after the discovery shortly before noon. Dr. Knutsen and James A. Vander Ploeg of Sheldon, O'Brien county coroner, agreed that death must have come to the couple within a short time of each other.

Vander Ploeg surmised that the wife had found her husband dead while they were getting ready for bed, and that the shock had occasioned her death. According to townsfolk, it generally was known that Mr. Weist had suffered heart trouble for a time. The autopsy disclosed that the wife might also have had a heart condition.

The autopsy, requested by Coroner Vander Ploeg, after his investigation of the deaths, disclosed no evidence of asphyxiation or poison. However, contents of Mr. Weist's stomach reportedly were being sent to Iowa City for a laboratory check. Investigation indicated he was the first to die.

Mrs. Clair Berry, a daughter of near Primghar, it was disclosed, had visited the home last Thursday morning. When no one answered the door and it was found locked, she believed them to be on a brief trip.

Neighbors, who became alarmed at the couple's continued absence, called for an investigation. Constable Walter Kruger and Dr. Ivan Brown broke into the home and made the discovery.

Surviving, in addition to the daughter, is a son, Gerald, of Omaha.

Combined funeral services were held at 2 pm. Wednesday at the Hartley Methodist church. Burial was in the Hartley cemetery.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, 21 Oct 1954, p1