Rensink, Bernard, 1919-1937

RENSINK, VANHOUTE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Sioux County Capital, November 11, 1937:

BERNARD RENSINK

Bernard Rensink, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rensink, was born May 1st, 1919, near Boyden, and was killed in a car accident, Tuesday, November 2, 1937, one and one half miles north of Boyden. He was eighteen and one-half years old at the time of his sudden death. He was a Freshman in the Boyden High school. Funeral services were held Thursday, Nov. 4, at the First Reformed church with Rev. Mr. J. Brink and Rev. Mr. Pollock officiating. Interment was made in the Boyden cemetery. Those who survive him are his parents, one brother, Glenn and four sisters, Eleanor, Joan, Mary Jean and Doris, all at home.

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From the Sioux Center News, November 4, 1937:

18 YEAR OLD BOYDEN HIGH SCHOOL BOY KILLED IN CAR CRASH

Bernard Rensink, eighteen year old son of Henry Rensink, farmer residing 4 miles north of Boyden, was instantly killed Tuesday morning when the car he was driving crashed headlong into a truck about a mile and a quarter north of Boyden.

Three girls, passengers in the same car, were injured, two seriously, Laura Kruse and Mildred Hausman, the former suffering a fractured left leg, severe scalp lacerations and internal injuries and the latter suffered a fractured right wrist, left leg, and face lacerations and bruises. Gretchen Fick suffered minor bruises, according to physicians at the Sheldon hospital where the injured were taken after the accident.

A farmer in the neighborhood, Mr. Rehberg, was burning weeds along the roadside on the west and a west wind blew heavy clouds of smoke across the gravelled road. The farmer had his car and trailer parked on the west side of the road, and another car shortly before had side-swiped the trailer and damaged it slightly. The driver of that car parked just ahead of Mr. Rehberg’s car while he investigated the damage to the trailer. Louis Westra, driver of the truck owned by John Buysman, Jr. of Sheldon, coming from the south brought his truck to a stop when the smoke became so thick he dared not continue through it. When it seemed to clear a little, he started again and just as he was coming out of the dense smoke he saw a car coming from the north and before he had time to shift from low gear into second, the approaching V-8 veered into the truck’s traffic lane and crashed into the box of the truck, killing the driver of the car instantly. The V-8 and the side of the truck and box were badly damaged. The truck driver was not seriously injured.

Funeral services for Bernard Rensink will be held today at 1:15 from the house and 2 p.m. from the Ref. Church of Boyden with Rev. J. Brink officiating. Interment will take place in the Boyden cemetery.

Survivors of the deceased include his sorrowing parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Rensink, one brother J. Glen, four sisters: Eleanor L., Joan M., Mary Jean and Doris H., two grandparents, Mr. John Rensink and Mrs. J. Van Houte.

Bernard was born and raised in the Boyden vicinity, where his father has farmed many years. He was a freshman in the Boyden high school, and his death came as a great shock to his school mates, who will attend his funeral in a body Thursday afternoon.

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From the Boyden Reporter, November 4, 1937:

BERNARD RENSINK KILLED IN AUTO CRASH
Three Other Boyden High Students Injured As Auto Swerves Into Truck Tuesday Morning on George Hiway
Youths Enroute to School; Trucker Escapes Injury
by Charles W. Lakin

[submitter’s note: Almost the entire front page of the newspaper was devoted to this accident The main article appears to have been produced in considerable haste, as the compositor evidently dropped words or lines here and there.]

Four happy Boyden high school students Tuesday morning left their farm homes to attend school only to meet tragedy, swift and terrible, which took the life of Bernard Rensink, 18, popular freshman, and injured the three girl passengers, Mildred Hausman, 13, freshman; Laure Kruse, 13, sophomore; Gretchen Fick, 14, sophomore.

[Followed by information on the injured girls being rushed to the Good Samaritan hospital in Sheldon, and their injuries.]

The fatal accident occurred at 8:30 a.m. about 1½ miles north of Boyden on a country highway [some words apparently missing] to George[.] Bernard, who was going south, crashed into a truck traveling in the opposite direction. The truck was owned by John Buysman of Sheldon and was driven by Louis Westra, also of Sheldon, It was loaded with freight consigned to George merchants.

Westra, in a statement given the [word(s) missing] a few minutes after the crash, said he “had stopped a few minutes to investigate another minor accident which occurred a few minutes before the fatal mishap.”

Although smoke from burning weeds along a fence row on the west side of the road almost entirely obscured the view, the fatal crash happened [words or lines missing] the Rensink car was going to crash into the truck, shielded his face with his arms and leaped to the other side of the cab. The Rensink car struck the truck at about the door of the cab. According to cartracks, Bernard apparently made a desperate effort to avoid the collision by slamming on the brakes which caused the machine to swerve wildly and finally dive into the truck. The crash was terrific. Westra, although dazed and suffering from a shoulder injury, was able to climb out of the cab and go to the car. The auto, A V8, did not turn over but caromed off of the truck and stopped on the east side of the road at the top of the road bank. The car was completely demolished with the top ripped and crumbled and the left side caved in.

Neither Bernard nor the three girls were thrown from the wrecked car. Bernard, who was killed instantly, was still at the wheel with his arm pressing on the horn. His body was badly crushed. The girls in the back seat were thrown together but escaped death when the car did not roll after the smash. Bernard’s body was taken to the farm home of Andy Rosenboom which was only a few yards from the accident. [Followed by the girls being taken to Sheldon, and information on the first minor accident, in which John VanderHaar crashed into a parked car-trailer when his vision was obscured by a cloud of smoke coming from weeds and debris being burned by Bill Rayberg and Nick Drenth in a cornfield on the west side of the road.]

Parts of the [Rensink car] were strewn about the highway for 100 feet from the crash. The upper front of the car, including the windshield and sun shield, were completely detached from the car and found a considerable distance from the scene of the crash.

Services Today
Funeral services for Bernard Rensink will be held Thursday afternoon at the farm home and the First Reformed church in Boyden. The home services will start at 1:15 p.m., and the church services will start at 2:00 p.m. Rev. J. W. Brink will officiate. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Rensink, a brother, Glan, four sisters, Eleanor L., Johanna M., Mary Jean and Dories H. The pallbearers are John Kooiker, Adrian Diekevers, Robt. DeVries, Arie Burggraff, Roger Smith and Maurice Mouw, all classmates.

[Also on this page: photos of the four students and of the wrecked car; summaries of the coroner’s jury proceedings; and statements to the press by John VanderHaar, Louis Westra, and Boyden Superintendent of Schools E. I. Lack. Lack said that [‘Bud’ Rensink’s] “determination to make good in high school after a number of years of absence was an inspiration to every faculty member and to every member of his class.”]

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His death certificate gives his residence as Route #1, Boyden, Iowa; born May 1, 1919 in the Sheldon Hospital, Sheldon, Iowa; parents Henry J. Rensink, born in Hospers, Iowa, and Mary Van Houte, born in South Holland, Illinois; resident of Boyden 8 years 7 months; died at 8:30 a.m. November 2, 1937; cause, fracture at base of skull due to auto accident (collision) on public highway near Boyden.