Zwaan, Leonard R. 1928-1961

ZWAAN, BERNER, KOOIMAN, RIZZO

Posted By: Leslie Brondsema (email)
Date: 2/3/2017 at 15:48:08

Rock Valley Bee June 29, 1961
Leonard Zwaan, 32, dies in Minnesota plane crash

A LeMars business man and a former Rock Valley man were killed early Thursday when their four place Cessna plane crashed about 2 1/2 miles southwest of Tyler.
Leonard Zwaan, 32, of Okoboji was the local man. Hartman was a passenger in the plane piloted by Zwaan. Merlin Rock, manager of the LeMars Municipal airport, said the men ordered the plane for 4:30 a.m. takeoff from the LeMars airport.
Authorities at Tyler, Minn. said the Cessna crashed on the Robert Peterson farm after apparently striking a power line. The ceiling was extremely low at the time of the crash, they said. Witnesses said the plane circled the southwestern Minnesota community several times before the crash. They said it appeared that the men were looking for the Tyler airport during the rainy and foggy weather. Wreckage was strewn over a 150-yard area. The impact sent the engine hurtling 135 yards from the point of crash. The men had filed a flight plan out of Huron, S. D.

Leonard Ralph Zwaan was born on Oct. 9, 1928 at Doon. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Zwaan. He died on June 22, 1961 at the age of 32 years, 8 months and 13 days. His death came very sudden in an airplane crash near Tyler, Minnesota, in which he was riding with his employer. He graduated in Doon from the Christian grade and Public high school. After graduation he was employed at Rock Valley in the furniture business until Dec. 9, 1953, at which time he entered the armed services. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 9, 1955. He then entered employment in housetrailer manufacturing in California and Forest City, until March 1, 1961. From that time he was salesman in Mobile homes at LeMars where he last resided.
On November 20, 1959 he was married to Miss Rose Berner. A member of Calvary Methodist church, Okoboji - Spirit Lake. Immediate survivors are his wife Rose, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Zwaan of Rock Valley, 2 sisters, Grace (Mrs. Cornie Kooiman) and Henrietta (Mrs. Fred Rizzo) both of Forest City, Iowa.

Alton Democrat June 29, 1961
Zwaan Funeral Here

Funeral services were held this Monday in the Methodist church for Leonard Zwaan, 33, victim of the airplane crash last week near Tyler, Minn.