Galles, Emanuel “Monal,” 1917-1939

GALLES, SCHNEIDERS

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

From the Alton Democrat, July 28, 1939:

BURNS PROVE FATAL SAT. TO MONAL GALLES
Seared By Flames In Tractor Explosion

Monald Galles, second oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Galles, died Saturday night of burns he received in the tractor explosion on the Martin Pottebaum farm July 11.

Funeral mass was held in St. Joseph’s church at Granville Monday and he was buried at Remsen with Rev. M. A. Schemel conducting the services at the cemetery.

Galles was severely burned about his chest and back when the tractor he was repairing caught fire from a magneto spark. Before his flaming clothes could be removed he suffered the burns that resulted in his death Saturday. He was taken to Sacred Heart hospital in LeMars following the accident. The immediate members of his family were at his bedside Saturday night.

Emmanuel J. Galles was born October 5, 1917 at Remsen and attended the Remsen schools. For the past two years he was employed as a farm hand in the Granville and Remsen vicinity.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Galles; by three brothers, Arnold, Milton and Marvin, and one sister, Mrs. Martin Pottebaum. He also leaves to mourn Miss Doris Schnepf of Oyens who was to become his bride in the near future.

The pallbearers, all close friends of Galles, were: Ferdinand Plathe, Omar Ricke, Kenneth Arens, Robert Schnepf, Anthony Langenhorst and Tony Clees.

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From the Sioux County Capital, July 27, 1939:

BURNS FATAL TO MONAL GALLES, REMSEN YOUTH
Succumbs to Injuries Sustained In Gas Explosion July 11

Burns he sustained in a gasoline explosion July 11 while at work on a farm eight miles north of Remsen proved fatal to Monal Galles, Remsen youth, at the Sacred Heart hospital in this city Saturday night after intense suffering.

At the time of the accident, Galles was working for his brother-in-law, Martin Pottebaum. The two men were engaged in overhauling a tractor and were cleaning the parts with gasoline. Pottebaum was standing by the machine and was holding an open can of gasoline in his hand. Adjusting the machinery he told Galles to turn the crank. As Galles did so an explosion followed and scattered oil in all directions igniting Galles’ clothes. Pottebaum went to his assistance and pulled off his clothes and while doing so his hands were severely burned.

Galles was badly burned about the face and on his chest, down to the waist and legs. It is thought the explosion ensued when a spark generated in the magneto. Galles was brought to the hospital in Le Mars and physicians at first held out hopes for his recovery.

Emanuel Galles or Monal as he was called by his family and friends, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Galles, well known farmers living northeast of Remsen. Besides his parents he leaves several brothers and sisters. He was a cousin of Mrs. Fred Earnest and Jack Galles of this city.

The funeral was held Monday morning at the church of the Holy Name in Marcus.—Le Mars Sentinel.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate has him as Emmanual Galles, resident of Granville, Iowa; born Oct. 5, 1917 in Iowa; parents Michael Galles and Anna Schnieder[Schneider], both born in Iowa; died at 9 p.m. July 22, 1939; cause, “gasoline burns upper extrem., trunk, buttocks, thigh, toxemia etc. from burns.”

His FindaGrave.com site has him as Emanuel Galles, buried in Saint Marys Cemetery, Remsen, Plymouth County; parents Michael Galles (1886-1970) and Anna M. Schneiders Galles (1891-1979). There is a photo of his headstone.

The Iowa Births and Christenings Index on Ancestry.com shows him born at Meadow, Plymouth County, parents Mike Galles and Annie Schneiders.