Frederick Lee “Rik" Lalor (1936-1960)

FAGAN, LALOR, NIEWERTH, PAUL

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

July 5, 1936 --- September 27, 1960

Rik Lalor’s Condition “Critical”

The condition of Rik Lalor, 24, was still listed as "critical" and he had not regained "consciousness” at Mercy hospital in Des Moines late Wednesday afternoon.

Lalor had been taken from Lutheran hospital in Ft. Dodge to Des Moines Tuesday for brain surgery. The surgery was performed Tuesday evening and it was reported that Rik had a " bad night".

Blood clots were removed from each side of his head.

Lalor was injured in a car accident about 1:15 a.m. Friday on Highway 20, 4 miles east of Lytton. He was enroute from Sac, City where he had been to attend a wedding rehearsal dinner to his mother’s home in Rockwell City. His mother is Mrs. Eva Lalor who teaches in the Rockwell City schools.

Lalor was to have been married to Gretchen Niewerth Paul of Sac City on Saturday night, Sept. 10th.

He had driven from Wichita, Kansas on Thursday and it is believed that he fell asleep while driving to Rockwell City that night. The car ran off the road hitting a farm field driveway and Lalor was thrown from the car. The car was completely demolished. Highway Patrolman Wayne McQueen of Rockwell City investigated the accident.

The son of the late Fred S. and Mrs. Lalor formerly of this city. Rik graduated from the Eagle Grove high school in 1954 and from the State University of Iowa in 1958 [1959]. Following graduate study and army service Lalor had secured a position with a medical equipment firm and had been assigned to the Wichita office of the firm early this summer.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
September 15, 1960

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Rik Lalor Services Here Friday

Funeral services for Fredrich [Frederick] “Rik" Lalor, 24, of Wichita, Kan., will be held at 2 p. m. Friday, September 30 in the First Congregational church here. The Rev. Norman FrerKing, pastor of the Douglas Avenue Presbyterian Church in Des Moines will officiate. Burial will be in Rose Hill cemetery.

Rik is the son of Mrs. Eva Lalor of Rockwell City, who survives him. The Lalors formerly lived in Eagle Grove and Rik graduated from Eagle Grove high school with the class of 1954.

He later attended the State University of Iowa and graduated with a B. A. degree in June of 1959.

He served in the Air National Guard and in June of 1960 joined the staff of the American Hospital Supply Co. He was with the Chicago office for about a month and then transferred to the Wichita office in the division of scientific products.

Lalor was fatally injured in a car accident on September 9 while enroute to Rockwell City from Sac City, The accident happened about 4 miles east of Lytton on Highway 20.

He apparently fell asleep while driving and ran off the road hitting a field driveway, which threw him from the car. He was taken to the Lutheran hospital in Fort Dodge with a serious brain injury. He was listed as critical for several days.

When his condition did not improve he was taken to the Mercy hospital in Des Moines where surgery was performed in an effort to save him. The surgery did not succeed and he died about 2 a. m. Tuesday, September 27 with out regaining consciousness.

Although his residence has been separated from Eagle Grove for several years he was well known in this community. He had distinguished himself as an excellent student both in high school and college and had been active in school life and athletics.

Rik had returned to Iowa from Kansas to be married. His wedding was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10. His bride to be was Gretchen Niewerth Paul of Sac City. The couple had planned to make their home in Wichita.

His father Fred S. Lalor preceded him in death January 17, 1959. His death occurred in California where the family had moved shortly after Rik entered the University. His mother Mrs. Eva Lalor had returned to Rockwell City her own girlhood home following her husband's death. She was a former Eagle Grove teacher before her marriage.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
September 29, 1960

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[Note: Obituary transcribed as published. In the U.S., Chicago and North Western Railroad Employment Records, 1935-1970. Name: Rik Lee Lalor Birth Date: 5 Jul 1936 Birth Place: Eagle Grove, Iowa Father: Fred S Lalor Mother: Eva Fagan Hire Date: Jul 1954 Record Date: 2 Jul 1954 Record Place: Eagle Grove, Iowa Occupation: Brakeman.]

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SUI to Confer Degrees at Commencement Friday. IOWA CITY – Degrees will be conferred upon some 1,340 students at the State University of Iowa’s spring commencement exercises Friday in the University Fieldhouse, according to Ted McCarrel, director of SUI convocations. WRIGHT: Rik Lalor. Published in the Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, June 11, 1959.

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Birth Announcements. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred S. Lalor Sunday morning at Mercy hospital, Ft. Dodge. The baby has been named Frederick. Published in the Eagle Grove Eagle on July 9, 1936.