Robert Joseph Bernard 1949 - 1973

BERNARD, CALLAGHAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/23/2022 at 20:45:44

The Carroll Times Herald
24 November 1973

Robert Joseph Bernard, 24, of Carroll, Iowa, was killed instantly Sunday evening when the car he was driving was struck by a Chicago and Northwestern freight train at the Maple Street crossing here. Carroll policeman, Romain Boes, who with Officer Bill Croghan, investigated the accident, said the Bernard vehicle was northbound on Maple Street and the train was west-bound on the middle set of tracks when the accident occurred.

Carroll County Medical Examiner, Dr. Roland B. Morrison of Carroll said Bernard died from a fractured skull and listed the time of death at 6:05 p.m. Engineer on the westbound freight was Anthony J. Grasso, Boone, who told Boes the train was traveling at 40 miles an hour at the crossing on the east side of Carroll. Boes said the engine of the train struck the Bernard vehicle broadside. The car was dragged approximately 200 feet west of the intersection before it fell away from the train on the south side of the tracks. Bernard’s body was trapped in the car.

Carroll firemen worked about 30 minutes at the scene with the rescue equipment to help free the body from the crushed wreckage. Boes said Bernard was alone in the vehicle. Bernard, who lived at 1125 North Court Street here, was a teacher in the junior high math department at the Holy Spirit School here. He also had some coaching duties at the school. He had taught at Holy Spirit since September 1971, and was a graduate of Iowa State University. The Maple Street crossing is the only railroad intersection in Carroll which is not marked with signal lights or cross bars.

Authorities withheld Bernard's name until his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Bernard of Anthon, Iowa, were notified. Bernard is the eighth traffic fatality in Carroll County in 1973, according to records kept at the Carroll County Sheriff’s office.

Requiem mass for Bernard will be celebrated at 8 a.m. Tuesday in Holy Spirit Church here by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Leo Lenz, V.F. The casket will then be taken to the Walter Funeral Home in Anthon where the Rev. Fr. Skahill will officiate at a mass Wednesday in St. Joseph’s Church. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Anthon.

Visitation at the Twit Funeral Home in Carroll was scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Monday. Rosary recitations were scheduled Monday at 2:15 p.m., 8 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. by the Knights of Columbus.

Bernard was born at Anthon, Iowa, September 9, 1949, a son of Wilfred J. and Marguerite Callaghan Bernard. He graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, in 1971.

He was a member of Holy Spirit Church and the Charles Carroll Council No. 780 in Carroll.

Surviving are the parents of Correctionville; nine sisters, Sr. Mary Bernard of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Mrs. Jim (Anne) LoJacono of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mrs. Tom (Kay) Petersen of Correctionville; Mrs. Harold (Jane) Trafton of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sue, Anita, Nancy, Theresa and Joan Bernard, all at home; and two brothers, Jack Bernard of Iowa City and Jim Bernard of Correctionville.

The Correctionville News
29 November 1973

Robert J. Bernard, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Bernard of Correctionville, was killed Sunday in a car-train accident at Carroll. Mr. Bernard was alone in a car when it crossed the path of a Chicago & Northwestern freight train. The car was carried about 200 feet down the track and Mr. Bernard was killed instantly.

Services were held at 8 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll with Msgr. Leo Lenz officiating. Funeral services at Carroll were under direction of the Twit Funeral Home. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Anthon with Rev. J.G. Skahill officiating. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery in charge of Walter Funeral Home.

Mr. Bernard was born September 9, 1949, in Sioux City and was a 1967 graduate of Anthon-Oto High School. He attended Briar Cliff College and was a graduate of Iowa State University. He taught two and a half years at Holy Spirit High School in Carroll.

He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus at Carroll.

Survivors include his parents, two brothers, Jack at Iowa City and Jim of Correctionville: nine sisters, Sister Mary Bernard of Minneapolis, Mrs. Jim (Anne) LoJacono of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mrs. Tom (Kay) Petersen of Correctionville, Mrs. Harold (Jane) Trafton of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Sue, Anita, Nancy, Therese and Joan, all of Correctionville.