Staum, Carroll 1934 - 1972

STAUM

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/3/2011 at 16:00:16

This community was stunned last Tuesday by the report that the body of an Akron area farmer, who had been missing since Thursday evening, February 24, was found Tuesday morning of last week at about 10:30 o'clock in the Big Sioux River about three miles southwest of Akron.

Sheriff Ed Guntren reported that the body of Carroll Staum, 37, was found in the river by Darrell Boetger, who had been searching the area. Deputy Sheriff Dennis Osterbuhr said that a search had been under way since Sunday, February 27, by friends and neighbors, the Akron police and Union County sheriff's department. Deputy Osterbuhr said, it appears Mr. Staum drove through the farm drive and the set of buildings on the Art Hasenbank farm and out onto a dike. Evidently he was down in a cornfield, tried to get out, came up over the dike and then the truck went into the river.

Akron police reported that Mr. Staum was last seen in Akron the night of February 24 and that he was haying his pickup truck worked upon. Deputy Osterbuhr stated that someone had reported meeting Mr. Staum's pickup on the road that evening and also 'meeting a snow plow. The snow plow driver couldn't remember having seen the Staum pickup on the road, however. Accordingly the search centered around the vicinity where the truck was last seen.

"The body of Mr. Staum was lying at the edge of the river as though it might have been thrown out, Deputy Osterbuhr stated. There is a ten-foot bank at that point, he added. "The pickup truck had gone through the ice, with about four or five inches of it sticking above the ice." The truck was on its side in about four feet of water, it was reported. Wreckers were called to the scene to pull the truck from the icy river.

The body of Mr. Staum was first taken to the Akron Hospital then transferred to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Sioux City for an autopsy at the request of the Union County coroner, Dr. S. H. Lindell. The autopsy report stated that death was due to exposure.

Mr. Staum, his wife, the former Joyce Plueger, of Le Mars, and their three children resided on a farm in Union County, S.D. about three miles southwest of Akron.

Funeral services for Mr. Staum were held Friday morning, March 3, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, west of Akron, with Rev. Marvin Ketterling officiating. Music consisted of a duet by Mrs. Ronald Lanning and Mrs. Robert Lane and a solo by Robert Ofstehage, with Mrs. Wayne Heckathorne as accompanist.. Casket bearers were Darrell Boetger, Gaynor Harris, Charles Milbrodt, James Small, Loren Stinehart and Arden Amundson. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery, at Akron, with Schroeder Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Staum was a lifelong resident of the Akron area, having attended grade school in Union. County and was a graduate of the Akron High School with the Class of 1952. He engaged in farming all of his life.

Survivors include the widow, two sons, Todd and Tim, a daughter, Sandra, all at home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Staum, of Elk Point, S.D.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, March 9, 1972
Akron, Iowa