Willemstyn, Robert 1945-1951

WILLEMSTYN, ROUBO, PLUIM

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 9/11/2013 at 11:04:19

Source: Sioux Center News (8-23-1951)

Six year-old Robert Dean, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Willemstyn of Middleburg, died at 7:30 last evening at the hospital here, three and one half hours after being struck by a gravel truck near the driveway of his farm home just west of Middleburg. He had a fractured skull and broken right leg.

The father was with him at the time of the accident. The boy and his dad were about to cross the road to feed and water some chicks on part of the farm that lies across the county road. Mr. Willemstyn halted the boy when he saw a Sioux Center Co-op Oil truck approaching from the west but as soon as the truck had passed the boy dashed into the path of a loaded gravel truck that was traveling east. Part of the gravel truck box struck the boy on the head and threw him back on the road. Mr. Willemstyn said the truck driver, Jerry Reisma of Sioux Center, attempted to miss the boy by swing toward the ditch. The boy was rushed to the hospital here, but there was little hope of saving his life.

Funeral arrangements, which were incomplete last night, will be under the direction of the Vander Ploeg Mortuary in Sioux Center.

Survivors include the parents and one sister, Bonnie Lee, 9, also, the grandparents on both sides, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Roubo and Mr. and Mrs. G. Pluim, all of Sioux Center.