Van Engen, Earl - Abt. 1928-1946

VANENGEN

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/30/2012 at 16:20:01

Doon Press, June 6, 1946

Tragedy struck suddenly Wednesday night when Earl Van Engen, 18 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. G. Van Engen, of Doon, in Lyon County, was killed when the car in which he was riding overturned on highway 167 one half mile west of highway 75.

The victim suffered a basil skull fracture and internal injuries and died shortly after being brought to the hospital at Hull.

Severely injured in the roll over was the driver of the car, cousin of the dead boy, Herbert Van Engen, who suffered a fracture of the neck of the femur. This is the long bone of the thigh, and it was broken just below the ball which fits into the socket of the pelvis. He was taken to the Hull hospital and when the seriousness of his injuries was determined he was sent to the Methodist Hospital at Sioux City.

Evelyn TerMait received cuts and bruises. The other occupants of the car, Mildred Van Engen, sister of the driver, Dale Van Engen, and John Often were treated at the Hull hospital, and were then allowed to go home.

The accident which took place on the cutoff between highway 75 and Doon, occurred a little after 11 p.m, as the car with the six Doon young people, who had spent the evening at Rock Rapids playing soft-ball and later bowling, were returning home. Dr. Maris said that examination of the car showed a tie-rod had broken and although the car was traveling at a moderate speed the car somersaulted.

The youth's mother, has been a patient at the Sacred Hear hospital, and was notified of her son's death by her physician and her pastor.

Survivors include his parents, three brothers, Gerald, Arnold and Elroy.

The community and a host of friends also mourn the loss of a dear friend.

Earl has graduated from Western Christian High School at Hull, May 23, 1946. Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon at the Christian Ref. Church at Doon with Rev. Hekman officiating. Burial was at Doon cemetery.