Karssen, Evert 1902-1965

KARSSEN, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/27/2015 at 10:47:45

Hawarden Independent, November 11, 1965

Evert Karssen, 62, of Hawarden was one of two persons killed in a car-truck collision at the junction of old Highway 77 and the South Dakota blacktop road out of Alcester at Hall's Corner five miles south of Beresford Saturday morning.

Mr. Karssen burned to death when trapped in the cab of his overturned gravel truck after the gasoline tank ignited. Much of the truck burned and asphalt burned off the highway.

The other victim, William McGuire, 69, who resided in rural Beresford about two miles south of the accident, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Canton-Inwood hospital.

According to authorities, Mr. Karssen was traveling west hauling gravel from the Everist gravel pit at Hawarden to Yankton. The McGuire car was traveling south out of Beresford towards his home. Sheriff Ed Ekren of Union County investigated.

The charred body of the Hawarden man was taken to the Barnard-Dow Funeral home. He had been under contract for hauling gravel with his two trucks for the Harmelink owned Yankton Cement Works. His son, Everett, drove the other truck.

Funeral services for Mr. Karssen were held at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon at the Community Reformed church, Rev. John Vos officiating. Interment was at Grace Hill cemetery under the direction of the Barnard-Dow Funeral home.

Casket bearers were Dick Van Wyk; Marion De Kock, Sr.; Milo Edmunds, Robert Garrett; Jake Van Noort and Francis Fisher. Albert Van Bruggen was the soloist with Mrs. Francis Fisher as organist.

Mr. Karssen was born at Hull, November 26, 1902, and would have been 63 this month. As a young man he went to Leota, Minn. to work where he married Jennie Schmidt, January 30, 1929. They resided at Lismore, Minn. then for 21 years at Rock Valley, coming to Hawarden 11 years ago.

Survivors include the widow; two sons, Everett of Hawarden and Bernard of Le Mars; a brother, William Karssen of Chandler, Minn.; a sister, Mrs. Tony Kooima, of Mora, Minn, and four grandchildren.