Buckley, Leo 1932-1949

BUCKLEY, KRUGER

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 8/29/2016 at 17:29:28

Source: Alton Democrat (7-28-1949)

Born: May 3, 1932
Died: 1949

Leo Buckley (17), youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Buckley of the Alton-Carnes vicinity, was killed in a tragic car collision early Friday morning. His sister, Maurita (19) was severely injuried, with a broken pelvis and broken rib; Paul Minten (17), of Alton, Donald Van Driel (16) and Carol Vander Stoep (17) both of Orange City received head injuries and body bruises. They were released from the Grossman Hospital at Orange City Saturday and Maurita Buckley expected to be taken home Wednesday, Vernon Mouw of Orange City, driver of one of the cars, escaped without injuries.

The Buckley young people had worked late the night before the accident, Leo having helped with combining. After a late supper his brothers assured the boy that they could finish the chores and he should go to the dance and have a good time , so he made a quick change and left happily with his sister and friends.

The tragic happened at an intersection three miles south of Alton on what is known as the “old Remsen road.” The Mouw car, with two passengers , Donald and Carol, was going north on this road and the Minten car was going west. A cornfield south east of the intersection obscured the corner.

The Minten car was struck broadsides on the left, indicating that it was in the middle of the intersection when rammed by the Mouw car. The impact was so powerful that the Minten car rolled in and out of the deep ditch on the west side of the intersection, over a fence and landed upside down in the edge of a corn field. The Mouw car was also carried to the west side of the road and turned over on the side of the grade. Leo was sitting alone in the back seat of the Minten car and was thrown out apparently landing on his head. He lived for about an hour and a half after the accident, which took place between 1:30 and 2:00 o’clock in the morning. All the young people were returning home from the dance at Remsen.

Dr. Murphy and Father Neppel, the Sheriff and Deputy arrived shortly before three o’clock, just as Leo passed on. He tried to talk several times, but no one could understand what he was saying. They notified the stricken Buckley family of the tragedy.

The injured young people were taken to the hospital by Rosa and Miller. Fortunately Paul Minten’s sister Ethel, in the back seat with Leo, had been taken home and they were on the way to the Buckley home a mile north of Carnes when the tragedy occurred. Paul had slowed up for the intersection but was already crossing it when lights flashed and he remembered on more.

Coroner Charles Vander Ploeg, called to the scene gave a verdict of accidental death. The Mouw car was a 1937 Ford 2-door, said to have defective brakes. Paul was driving the parental Sylvester Minten 1939 Chevrolet Sedan.

Leo Buckley was born May 3, 1932 at Le Mars. The family moved to Struble and later to a farm near Maurice, where he attended rural school. He attended Le Mars Central High School for one and a half years, then quit school to help his father and brothers on the farm. Two years ago in March the family moved to their present farm, purchased from the Schneider estate and formerly occupied by the Vic Schneider family. Leo was the youngest of the family, his sister Maurita next in age. Surviving are his parents, four brothers, Tim and Bill of Le Mars, Tom and Donald at home; three sisters, Annetta, teaching at Danbury, Noema, teaching at Rock Valley and Maurita at home. Also surviving is his maternal grandfather, Henry Krueger of Compton, California, who was a guest in the Buckley home at the time of the tragedy.

Requiem Mass was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Monday morning in charge of the Very Reverend J.M. Neppel. Pallbearers were Eddie Ruhland, Bob Nipp, Junior Jonas, Charles Buckley, Bill Schlesser and Robert Schlesser.

The entire community feels the deepest sympathy for the family bereaved by the shocking tragedy.