Roger Lee Sieling 1938 - 1946

SIELING, GUTHRIDGE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/28/2022 at 16:35:57

The Correctionville News
18 July 1946

Tragedy again strikes in Correctionville.

The second accident in ten days caused the death, by drowning, of seven-year-old Roger Sieling, at the swimming pool in Copeland Park Sunday afternoon. This was the first drowning in the pool in its nine years of operation. Three older brothers, whom Roger had accompanied to the park with a group of Pierson youths, were swimming with the boy when the accident occurred. Witnesses said the lad last was seen wading along the edge of the pool near the eight-foot barricade. His brothers missed him and gave an alarm after they had gone to the bathhouse and found his clothing still there. The body was located about five minutes later in nearly eight feet of water. None of the nearly 100 persons in the pool had seen the boy go down. The body was recovered within a few minutes after the lad was missed. Volunteers joined hands and spread out through the pool to locate the body. Rodney Hunter, lifeguard, recovered it by diving.

Dr. M.R. Runions of Sioux City, who was visiting in Correctionville, was called to the scene along with Dr. Alfred Bullock of Cushing. Artificial respiration was administered for 1 ½ hours without results. In conversations with Dr. Runions later we were told that in his opinion, the boy had been under water for twenty minutes or more. He said the condition of the body at the time gave very slight hope. He also stated that the stomach contained considerable food giving evidence that the boy had eaten heartily shortly before entering the water. Dr. R.W. Perkins, Sioux City, deputy coroner, investigated.

Roger was born near Pierson on August 10, 1928, and is survived by his parents, three brothers, Donald, Ronald and Robert, and a sister, Betty. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman J. Sieling, are well known in Correctionville. They made their home here for many years and at one time operated a restaurant here. Mrs. Sieling is the daughter of James Guthridge who also makes his home in Pierson.

The body was taken to the Osborn Funeral Home in Pierson. Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Christian Church in Pierson with Rev. H.E. Hutchinson of the Methodist church officiating. Burial was made in Good Hope Cemetery north of Correctionville.