Harms, Helena 1869-1945

HARMS, DIRKS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/25/2019 at 21:29:06

Mrs. Harms nee Helena Dirks, was born March 20, 1869, in Germany.

Mrs. Harms, nee Helena Dirks, was married April 25, 1890, to Fred Harms in Grant twp, and they farmed there for many years before moving to LeMars.

Surviving to mourn her passing are two daughters, Mrs. Anna Brabander and Mrs. Emma Powell, of Los Angeles, and one son, John, of Le Mars.

One son Henry, died in 1918, and two sons and two daughters died in infancy. She was preceded in death by three sisters and a brother, in addition to the children as noted above.

Luken’s funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Lemars Le Mars Globe Post
December 20, 1945
Le Mars, Iowa

Services Sunday for Five Found Dead in LeMars Home

LeMars, Ia.—Special: Funeral services for the five LeMars’ residents who were asphyxiated here as a result of carbon monoxide gas fumes due to a soot-clogged chimney, will be held at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon at St. John’s Lutheran church. Rev. L. L. Belk will officiate and burial will be in Grant township cemetery west of here.

The bodies will be taken from the Luken and Mauer funeral homes to the church at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Those found dead in the home were Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Harms, Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Siebels and Miss Sylvia Siebels.

Sioux City Journal
Saturday, Dec. 22, 1945
Sioux City, Iowa

Victims of Asphyxiation Chimney Clogged Coroner Says

LeMars, Ia.—Special: Five persons, representing three generations, are dead here from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the clogged condition of the chimney in the residence where the five lived, according to S. J. Luken, coroner of Plymouth county, who conducted an investigation.

Bodies of the victims were in a frozen condition when found, the coroner said, adding that all showed evidence of having attempted to get to fresh air when overtaken by death.

The dead: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Harms, 85 and 76, respectively. Henry J. Siebels, 54, and Mrs. Catherine Siebels, 52, his wife who is a daughter of the elder couple. Miss Sylvia Siebels, 19, daughter of the Siebels.

The tragedy was discovered about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when Clyde Eastman, cashier of the First National bank, went to the Harms home to inquire the reason for the absence of Miss Siebels from her job at the bank. He had called the house and received no answer. Miss Siebels had been absent from her duties also on Tuesday.

No Response to Knocks

Mr. Eastman, receiving no response to repeated knocks, summoned Chief of Police Fay Terpinning. The two broke into the house and discovered the tragedy.

The bodies indicated that all had made attempts to reach fresh air. Miss Siebels had reached the head of the stair and had fallen there. Mrs. Harms had arisen from her bed and had collapsed at the side of the bed. Her husband was in bed. The Siebels had thrown their bed clothing aside, indicating they had tried to rise, the investigation showed.

Son in Navy Service

The bodies, of Mr. and Mrs. Harms were taken to the Luken funeral home here and the bodies of the Siebels to the Mauer funeral home.

Survivors, as far as can be determined, include Melvin Siebels, a son of the Siebels couple, who is in the navy in the Pacific area. He was expected home for the Christmas holidays, it was reported. He is the only direct survivor of the Siebel family.

Surviving the Harms couple is one son John, who farms near LeMars, and two daughters, Mrs. John Brabander and Mrs. L. J. Powell, both living in California.

The Harmses had lived in LeMars about 30 years since retiring from their farm. The Siebels also had retired from farming, but Mr. Siebels recently had engaged in trucking.

Sioux City Journal
Thursday, Dec. 20, 1945
Sioux City, Iowa