STEE, Clifford Marvin --- 1903-1962

HEGLAND, STEE, JONES, WELLER, BIRTWELL, ENGELHARDT

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 2/16/2011 at 11:13:37

Clifford Stee, Accident Victim

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia for Clifford Stee, who died Thursday of injuries received in an accident. The Rev. Walter Pfeffer was in charge of the rites with burial in Pleasant View cemetery.

Clifford Stee was fatally injured Thursday morning while working on a project near the William Livingood farm north of Postville. Stee, working with his brother Merle, was killed when a tractor loader toppled over on him near the stone quarry at 8:05 a.m. The two men were hauling the machine on a low-boy vehicle when it started to slip as they rounded a curve. Clifford got out and started up the loader on the carrier to try and straighten it out. When the machine was started it began to slide on the frost covered carrier.

The tractor loader toppled off the side of the carrier taking Stee with it. It landed in the ditch and rolled over on him, crushing him. He died minutes later.

The engine was still running and the machinery righted itself after crushing Stee. The men were moving the equipment to Decorah for another project.

Merle Stee went to the Livingood residence for assistance, a distance of 300 yards. Winneshiek County Sheriff Gene Simenson and County Medical Examiner Dr. James Bullard, were called in to assist in the investigation.

Clifford Marvin Stee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Stee, was born February 28, 1903 near Castalia. He passed away Thursday, October 25, 1962. He was married to Mamie Jones of David City, Nebraska on December 31, 1930 at Garrison, Nebraska. Three children were born to this union, two of whom survive.

Mr. Stee spent nearly his entire life in the Castalia area being away only three years while living in Nebraska. He was a machine operator for Winneshiek county for the past 15 years. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, was active in Boy Scout work, served on the town council and volunteer fire department.

Survivors include his widow Mamie; two daughters, Ardyth, Mrs. Earl Weller, of McGregor, and Karen, Mrs. Lucius Birtwell, Jr., of Castalia; four brothers, Merle, Herbert, Harlan and Morton of Castalia; one sister, Mrs. Edwin (Anna) Engelhardt of Castalia; a granddaughter Candy Weller, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Gretta, who passed away in 1944.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.