Fred L. Coffey 1881 - 1946

COFFEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/19/2018 at 08:31:28

Sioux City Journal
21 June 1946

Fred L. Coffey Dies Of Burns

Blazing Gas Drenched Engineer Following Truck Crash

Fred L. Coffey, 64-year-old former Sioux Cityan, died Thursday night in a hospital at Watertown, South Dakota of burns suffered in an explosion late Tuesday near Lake Norden, South Dakota, when the train of which he was the engineer collided with a gasoline transport truck.

Coffey’s body was burned “virtually all over,” hospital attendants said. Showered with gasoline when the truck’s 3,000-gallon tank exploded into flames, Coffey was a human torch when he jumped from the train’s engine cab, witnesses said.

Funeral services for Mr. Coffey, who moved from Sioux City to Sioux Falls two years ago and who, relatives said, had expected to retire after this year and move to California, will be held here at 2 p.m. Monday at Anderson’s Funeral Home. Rev. John V. Madison, Sioux Falls pastor will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery.

Drivers Condition Serious

Meanwhile in Sioux Falls another victim of the crash Friday morning remained in serious condition at the Soo Valley Hospital, attendants said. He is 19-year-old Duane Gunderson, Sioux Falls, driver of the transport, who suffered first and second degree burns over most of his body. Attendants said he had improved but little since he was taken to Sioux Falls Wednesday from a Brookings, South Dakota hospital where he was taken immediately after the crash.

x-rays had not been taken to determine whether Gunderson suffered any injuries in addition to the burns. Full extent of the burns themselves will not be known until bandages are removed, the attendants said.

Also injured was Ervin D. Rasmussen, 46, railway mail clerk who suffered first and second degree burns about the face and hands. He was reported at the Luther Hospital at Watertown as in “good condition” Friday morning. He jumped from the flaming mail compartment.

Born In Sioux City

Three relatives of the engineer were in Watertown at the time of his death. They were his widow, Lucille; a son, Lloyd, a conductor for the railroad and a daughter, Mrs. Alvin Johnson, of Palos Heights, Illinois.

Mr. Coffey was born June 6, 1881 in Sioux City. He had worked for the Great Northern railway since 1906, most of the time as an engineer. He was a member of Sioux City Lodge 684, I.O.O.F., and of the Sioux City Eagles Lodge. He also held membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

His first wife, Mrs. Florence Coffee died April 13, 1933, in Sioux City.

Survivors in addition to the widow, the son and the daughter, include two brothers, John of Sioux City and George of California; two sisters, Mrs. Ora Gilman, Vancouver, Washington and Mrs. John Pecaut of Sioux City and two grandchildren.

The body was to be brought to Sioux City this afternoon from the Mathiesen-Gergen-Rhodes Funeral Home at Watertown.