VerMulm, William Cornelius ("Bill"), 1905-1965

VERMULM, AURIT, SPLEAR

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/26/2012 at 20:35:45

Services Held for Father-Daughter Victims of Car-Train Smash-up Friday

Rock Valley has been a sad, subdued community since it learned of the tragic deaths Friday morning [January 15] of two of its citizens, William C. Ver Mulm, 59, and his daughter, Mrs. Robert Splear, 30, that resulted when a car in which they were riding collided with a train at Struble.

Kathy Splear, 7, who was also in the car, suffered fractures to both arms, an injury in the pelvic area and lacerations. Kathy will be hospitalized in the Le Mars hospital for some time as doctors have her in traction and under observation.

Rock Valley's business district was closed during the funeral service held Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary's church. Father R. W. Reinhart officiated.

It was reported that Mr. Ver Mulm died almost immediately and officials think that Mrs. Splear may have lived until she was taken to the Le Mars hospital but that was only a conjecture.

The three-some was on their way to a school two miles east of Craig where Kathy had been going to school. Mr. Ver Mulm was driving his daughter and granddaughter to the school due to the Splear vehicle being repaired.

Reports of the accident did not reach the Rock Valley families until sometime after 11:00 a.m. although the accident happened about 9:10 a.m., it was reported. Mr. Splear was working at Beverly's Apparel, the shop owned by he and his wife, when he was asked to go to Frank McGill's office. Plymouth county authorities had called Mr. McGill to break the news to the family. Mrs. Ver Mulm, who had been waiting downtown for her daughter to return from Craig, went home when she heard a radio report of an accident although no names were given in the report.

No knowledge of how or why the accident occurred has been turned up by authorities. The engineer said he saw Mr. Ver Mulm's face looking up at him and thought he saw him apply the brakes of the vehicle. The automobile, a total wreck, hit the train just to the rear of the engine. It was the first time that the family had used the route they took that morning. The usual route was through Ireton, through Craig to the school east of Craig but it was thought that Mr. Ver Mulm took Highway 75 thinking that it would be more free of ice than the other route.

Mr. Ver Mulm was Town Marshall of Rock Valley for the past seven years. Previous to that he had operated a garage for a number of years. He was born here Oct. 13, 1905 and married Frances Aurit Oct. 3, 1929.

He is survived by his widow; two sons, William J., Harrisburg, S.D. and Larry, Rock Valley; a daughter, Joan (Mrs. Robert Moeller), Rock Valley; three sisters, Jennie (Mrs. Sam Buma), Rock Valley, Mary (Mrs. Peter Vugteveen), Maurice, and Martha (Mrs. Henry Harmelink), Colton, S.D.; one brother, Nick, Newburg, Ore.; and four grandchildren.

Mrs. Splear is survived by her husband; her daughter, Kathy; her mother and the above mentioned brothers and sisters as well as her grandmother, Mrs. Harry Kessler, Canton, S.D.

She was born Nov. 28, 1934 at Rock Valley and grew up here, being graduated from the Rock Valley high school. She married Jack Ver Mulm Sept. 13, 1954. He died Dec. 10, 1954. She and Mr. Splear were married Sept. 19, 1956 and after that date the couple opened their dress shop.

Interment was in St. Mary's cemetery with Porter Funeral home in charge of arrangements. Rosery was recited Sunday evening in the funeral home. Pallbearers for Mr. Ver Mulm were Clarence Miller, Clarence Koerner, Tom De Bruin, Vincent Strubbe and Weber Burgers. Pallbearers for Mrs. Splear were Hein Kosters, Clayton Arends, Donald Miller, Vernon Hamann, Carlisle Hamann and Donald Plenger.

Source: Rock Valley Bee, January 21, 1965.
The article includes photographs of the victims.

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A shorter article/obituary in the Alton Democrat (Jan. 21) adds that his parents and one brother, Case, preceded him in death. It gives his daughter's name, Beverly, and corrects her first husband's name to Jack Ver Meulen.

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The Jan. 21 Sioux Center News has a brief article about the accident, with a photograph of the car:

Rock Valley Man and Daughter Killed in Mishap

Rock Valley's town marshal, William Cornelius Ver Mulm, 59, and his daughter, Mrs. Robert (Beverly) Splear, 34, wife of Robert Splear, Rock Valley clothier, were fatally injured about 9:10 a.m. Friday, January 15, when the 1955 Ford car in which they were riding collided with a Great Northern freight train at the main crossing in

Another passenger in the car, Kathy Splear, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Splear, is confined to Sacred Heart Hospital in LeMars as a result of injuries sustained in the mishap. Her condition is considered as "fair."

The northbound freight hit the left front end of the westbound car and knocked it into the ditch on the north side of the county road. Both Mr. Ver Mulm and Mrs. Splear were thrown from the car. Both suffered intensive head injuries. The train engineer reported he saw the car just before the crash, said he thought the driver might have seen the train, applied his brakes, but skidded onto the tracks because of snow and ice. There are no flashing signals at the crossing. Mr. Ver Mulm was taking Kathy to a special school in Craig when the accident occurred.