Sturtevant, Don 1928-1973

STURTEVANT, TUCKER, CHILDERHOUSE

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/31/2019 at 00:26:16

Drowning Victim's Bodies Recovered

The bodies of a 44-year-old McCook Lake man and his 3-year-old daughter missing since Saturday were recovered from Lewis and Clark Lake Tuesday morning by Army Corps of Engineers officials near the Midway Beach area on the South Dakota side of the lake.

Don Sturtevant, McCook Lake, and his daughter, Cindy, drowned Saturday following a boating accident while the family was vacationing for the weekend at Yankton. Mrs. Sturtevant and 10-year-old Jonena were saved.

The parents and both daughters were enjoying a boat ride in the middle of the lake early when Cindy fell into the water. Both the mother and father jumped overboard in an attempt to rescue her while Jonena remained in the craft briefly until seeing her mother struggling to stay afloat.

Mrs. Sturtevant and Jonena were rescued by a sailboat after their own boat had drifted out of swimming distance. They were in the water for about 10 or 15 minutes the rescue vessel.

The Yankton County sheriff's office and the Corps of Engineers aided in searching for and recovering the bodies. Both were brought to Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, 3220 Stone Park Blvd.

Mr. Sturtevant was born Oct. 16, 1928, at Merrill, Iowa. He grew up in the Hinton-Merrill area and lived at Poplar, Wis., for seven years. He was a seaman on the Great Lakes during the time he was in Wisconsin.

Mr. Sturtevant worked as a welder for the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. for several years and was a truck driver for 14 years. He was employed by Hirschbach Motor Lines for last 10 years.

He was a member of Trimble United Methodist Church and PMS Club. He married Jean M. Childerhouse July 26, 1969, at Vermillion, S.D. He served in the Navy for six years following World II and in the Korean War.

Survivors include the widow; five daughters; Jonena, at home, Linda, Debra, Sharyl and Becky, all of Superior, Wis.; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle F. Sturtevant of McCook Lake S.D.; two brothers, Verlin of Akron, Iowa, and Clarence of South Sioux City; two sisters, Mrs. Fern Hartman of Kingsley, Iowa, and Mrs. Betty Hennous of Holly Springs; his grandfather George Tucker of Montesano, Wash., and his grandmother, Mrs. Minnie William of Sioux City.

A memorial in his name is being established for the Siouxland Council on Alcoholism.

Sioux City Journal
Wednesday, August 22, 1973
Sioux City, Iowa