Ellickson, Peter G -- 1900 - 1954

ELLICKSON, HAUGEN, GILMAN, HIMLE

Posted By: Lori Ellickson (email)
Date: 1/12/2011 at 21:18:09

Decorah Journal
Thursday, December 23, 1954

Funeral for Ellickson at 3:30 Today

Funeral services for Peter Ellickson, 54, well-known Decorah mail carrier who died Tuesday afternoon from a self-inflicted gun wound, will be held from the First Congregational Church today, Thursday, Dec. 23 at 3:30 p.m.
Ellickson's body will lie in state at the church from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Burial will be at Phelps Cemetery with the Rev. Richard J. Nielsen, church Pastor officiating. The Steine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Six nephews of the deceased will serve as pallbearers. They are Jimmy, Howard and Jerry, all of Cedar Rapids, and Rodney, Vernon and Roger Ellickson, all of Decorah.
Found In Workshop
Ellickson was found with a .32 calibre pistol wound in his head in a workshop located behind his apartment at 310 Day Street about 3 p.m. He died while being taken to the Decorah Hospital in an ambulance.
He was discovered lying on a couch in the workshop by his wife and Mrs Frank Holland, who lives in an apartment above Ellickson's. They went to investigate after hearing a noise and found the door of the workshop locked. They went to get the key and then found Ellickson on the couch.
Cause for the act is not known.
Carrier For 35 Years
Ellickson had served as a city mail carrier for the Decorah post office for approximately 35 years. He had not been working since August, 1953, however, when he injured his back in a fall while delivering mail.
According to Oscar Jaeger, Decorah Postmaster, Ellickson had not been able to work because of a slipped disk in his back. He had taken considerable treatment for the injury and had hoped to get back on the job after the holidays.
Jaeger said Ellickson had been trying to get into condition by walking with other carriers and doing some sorting of mail at times. He said he had not been working regularly since his injury.
Had Used Sick Leave
Ellickson is reported to have used up his sick leave and annual leave as an employee of the post office.
Had he been permanently disabled, he would have qualified for a reduced annuity. Postal employees qualify for a full pension when they are 60 if they have had 30 years of service.
"Pete," as he was known by all his friends, was born in Madison, Minn., July 2, 1900. His parents were Ashley and Elisa Ellickson, originally of Winneshiek County, who moved away and returned in 1912. They preceded him in death."
Appointed in 1919
Ellickson attended Decorah high school as was appointed...
Ellickson...see page 7
(unfortunately I don't have the rest of this article to finish the story but it gives the basic obituary at least) If anyone happens to have this article or access to it, I would appreciate the rest of it, thanks.