Timmer, Gerald - 1936-1953

TIMMER

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/11/2013 at 11:37:56

Sioux Center News, June 18, 1953 & Hawarden Independent, June 18, 1953

Using the obit from the Sioux Center News, the Hawarden paper gives a full account of the drowning accident.

A 16 year old boy was drowned Sunday afternoon while wading the Dry Creek about five miles northeast of Hawarden. He was Gerald Timmer, son of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Timmer of Hawarden.

The body was recovered by volunteers from the Hawarden fire department. Efforts to revive the boy were unsuccessful. George Dunn of Spencer, IA a state highway patrolman and an unidentified patrolman assisted in recovering the body.

Gerald and his brother, Marlow, 15, were wading in the creek when they evidently stepped into a deep hole. Marlowe, who was able to get out of the hole, immediately ran home to summon help. Neither boy could swim.

Survivors besides the parents and brother are four sisters, Myrna, Bernice, Norma and Rhonda, all at home; and two grandmothers, Mrs. Gertrude Timmer and Mrs. Lottie Van Buskirk, both of Hawarden.

Information from the Hawarden paper: Gerald Eugene Timmer was born at Hawarden on July 1, 1936 and lived in this community all his life, except during 1937 and 1938 when his parents were engaged in farming in the Hudson community. He received all his elementary education in District No. 4, Eagle Township, and attended Hawarden High School two years. During the last two years he assisted his father in farming.