Glen Schaffert (1904-1947)

SCHAFFERT

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/28/2008 at 16:49:16

Glen Schaffert 1904-1947
Instantly Killed Friday Afternoon
Contact with High Voltage Wire at Booster Station Fatal

Glen G. Schaffert, 42, district foreman for the Iowa Power and Light company here, was instantly killed late Friday afternoon when he either slipped or leaned back too far while climbing a metal tower in the Avoca booster station.

High Voltage Wire

Approximately 33,000 volts passed through his body from the right shoulder to the right knee where it was grounded against the tower frame. Schaffert was preparing to test a transformer when the accident happened. According to R. A. Huntington of Des Moines, safety director for the utility, Mr. Schaffert had a perfect safety record during his 19 years of employment.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Blust-Berthusen funeral home at 2:30 pm with the Rev. John M. DeBerg officiating. Avoca business houses closed during the hours of the funeral service and the school was closed Monday afternoon. Members of the Masonic lodge formed a guard of honr at the funeral home and at the cemetery.

Mr. Schaffert was born the son of Godfried F. and Lida Anderson Schaffert in Avoca on December 2, 1904. He attended Avoca Public Schools and spent almost his entire life in this vicinity.

On July 19, 1930, he was united in marriage to Mildred Sowerer of Carson. They started housekeeping in Avoca and have since made their home here. Surviving him are his widow; three daughters, Ann, Jane and Susan; a sister, Mrs. Ruth Tamms of Council Bluffs; a brother, Ardie of Oakland; and a half-brother, Uriah Bolton of Whiteriver, South Dakota.

For the past 19 years, Mr. Schaffert had been employed by the Iowa Power and Light Company working up to the position of district foreman at the time of his accidental death.

Glen was very interested in the affairs of his community taking an active part in the church, the school system, various lodges and the city fire department. He was a member of the Avoca school board for the past six years and was serving as president of the boar at the time of his untimely death. He was recently appointed Seventh District director of the Iowa Association of School Boards. A member of the Avoca volunteer fire department for more than 16 years, he was serving as assistant chief at the present time.

Mr. Schaffert was a Past Master of Mt. Nebo lodge No. 297 A.F.& A.M. and was the present treasurer of the lodge. He was also a member of the building committee of the lodge. Active in lodge work, Mr. Schaffert, was serving his third term as Worthy Patron of the Avoca Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.

He was a member of the First Congregational church of Avoca.

Possessed with a pleasing voice Glen devoted much of his time to choir work and the church music. He was often called on to sing a funerals.

Having had to work hard to gain an education, he spent much of his leisure time improving his own knowledge and was very interested in promoting the education of others. He will be sorely missed not only by his bereaved widow and children, but also by his employers and associates as well as the entire community.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Journal Herald