ALDRICH, Elsie Marie: Died 1986

ALDRICH, KNOLL, THOMPSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 12/16/2022 at 08:09:11

25 Feb 1986
Fairfield Ledger

Keosauqua woman, 80, dies after being rescued from river

KEOSAUQUA - Elsie Marie Aldrich, 80, of Keosauqua, died of an apparent heart attack at 3:25 p.m. Monday at Van Buren County Memorial Hospital, where she had been taken earlier that afternoon after being rescued from the Des Moines River.

Mrs. Aldrich was driving south on Front Street near Keosauqua City Park at about 12:45 p.m., when her car went out of control, broke off a guard post, and went down a steep bank into the river.

The car landed on its wheels near the shore and did not submerge, but rescue workers had to enter the river to remove Mrs. Aldrich. Officers believe she may have blacked out before the accident. She was alone in the car.

Services for Elsie Marie Aldrich will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Keosauqua United Methodist Church with the Rev. Don Morrison officiating. Burial will be in Purdom Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua. Memorials to the Keosauqua Senior Citizens Center or Van Buren County Ambulance Service may be left at the funeral home.

Mrs. Aldrich was born Nov. 13, 1905 near Waukee, the daughter of John F. and Mary E. Knoll. She graduated from Waukee High School, and State Teachers College, Cedar Falls. On May 25, 1928, she married George Aldrich at his parents' home near Waukee. He died Jan. 4, 1985.

Surviving are two sons, Donald of Keosauqua, Roger of Jacksonville, Fla.; a daughter, Mary Lou Thompson of Alameda, Calif.; five grandchildren, and one brother, Louie Knoll of Adel.

Mrs. Aldrich was an officer in the Keosauqua Motor Company and was actively engaged in business for many years. She was a longtime member of Keosauqua United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, a member of Chapter I, PEO, and Keosauqua Mothers Club.

Source: "Scrapbook 1986 - 1988", Pg. 317,
Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren Co., IA