Geib, Wilbur 1969-1971

GEIB

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 1/16/2017 at 20:24:28

Source: Alton Democrat (6-24-1971)

Born: 1969
Died: 1971

Fatal drowning of their son Wilburn in the pond near North Alton last night was a sad mishappening for Larry and Anne Geib. But it may help in providing work and a permanent home , who have been traveling in their car looking for work. Now they want to settle in Alton “because folks have been so good to us.”

They drove into the park Tuesday afternoon. The day was hot and rather than go on, which had been their plan according to Anne, they made beds for the five children inside the car and their own bed outside beside the car. The windows were left down due to the heat , the mother discovered that Wilbur was missing the next morning.

She asked the custodian of the park if he had seen the missing child. His reply was in the pond and as she ran along the edge of the pond , she suddenly cried out to her husband. The little one was floating in the water of the pond. After the husband carried the body out, the custodian took them to the Dr. office and then to the mortuary in Orange City . They then took them to the Alton motel and they have since stayed.

Graveside services and burial was in Orange City Cemetery at 10:00 A.M. Reverend Maze was in charge. Mother thinks that Wilbur, climbing from the car window and was looking for the park where he had been playing last evening, wandering about had gone into the water from the bank.

Larry gave his occupation as truck driver and said he had mainly worked driving a “cat” in logging camps in the northwest states. He was brought up on a farm near Kimball, Nebraska, but now has no close family connections. They were enroute to Minnesota looking for work, but now would like to locate here, where Larry hopes to find work on a farm.