Ireland, Elmer 1892-1960

IRELAND, VOORHIES, WILSON, JONES, SHAW, PHELAN, GABBERT

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/21/2009 at 10:29:12

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; April 18, 1960

ELMER IRELAND DIES FRIDAY IN ACCIDENT

Slips Through Hole In Roof While Helping To Tear Down Building

An accidental fall from a roof while working on a building demolition project here shortly before noon Friday proved fatal to a 67-year-old Grinnell man.

Elmer Ireland, one of a crew of workmen engaged in tearing down the old Poweshiek County Implement Store at 916 West Street, was helping tear off the roof of the building and apparently stepped backward into one of several holes left by the removal of skylights. He plunged through the hole and struck the hood of a pickup truck parked beneath, then bounced to the concrete floor. Roof was about 15 feet above the floor.

Ireland was immediately rushed to a local hospital where he was prounonced dead on arrival by the attending physician. It was ascertained that he had sustained a broken neck.

The fatal accident occurred just a few minutes before the noon lunch break.

In a talk with Herald-Register newsmen shortly after the accident, one of Ireland's fellow-workers who was also on the roof expressed the opinion that Ireland struck the back of his head on the edge of the hole through which he fell. The holes were between three and four feet across.

Another workman on the main floor of the building said he heard a crash and looked up in time to see Ireland hit the hood of the truck feet first and then fall off onto the floor on his back. He said he immediately rushed to his side where he found Ireland unconscious and "probably dead."

The victim reportedly had a large wound on the back of his neck and another on his face, likely caused by the hammer he was holding when he fell.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Funeral services were held this afternoon (Monday) from the Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. C.E. Kingsley, pastor of the First Baptist church, officiating. Music was by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bohstedt. Flower bearers were Mrs. Don Dimit and Mrs. Bill Werneberg.

Pallbearers were Garold Dhondt, Harold Jackson, Bradford Jones, Max Jones, Fred Miller and Harold Wilson. Burial was in Hazelwood cemetery.

The son of Schuyler Elmer and Hattie May Voorhies Ireland, he was born August 6, 1892, near Martelle. He attended the rural schools near his home. On Nov. 4th, 1952, he was married to Wynema Wilson, in Maquoketa and they made their home in Anamosa where he was employed as a carpenter until three years ago when they moved to Grinnell.

He is survived by his wife, Wynema; three step children, George M. Wilson, Mrs. Betty Jones and Carmen J. Wilson, all of Grinnell; 16 step grandchildren; three children and several grandchildren from a previous marriage; three sisters, Mrs. Maude Shaw of Rockford, Ill., Mrs. Mable Phelan of Cedar Rapids, and Mrs. Glenn Gabbert of Muscatine; three brothers, Delmar Ireland of Madison, Wis., Howard L. Ireland of Madison, Wis., and H.C. "Ted" Ireland of Cedar Rapids.