Person:Elizabeth Holly (9)

From the July 27, 1936, edition of the Mason City (IA) Globe-Gazette

2 Victims at McGregor

Mr. and Mrs. [Ed] Lestina, who were on their way to mass at Monona, were killed about 7 o'clock Sunday morning when a freight train struck their car a quarter of a mile from their home, which is near McGregor. At this point, the main line of the Milwaukee crosses a dirt side road. Trees on both sides partly obscure the view.

After the car was dragged several rods, it was hurled from the track. Trainmen, who backed up, summoned and ambulance from Monona. Mrs. Lestina was dead when reached and he died soon after. They had no children.

From the July 30, 1936, edition of the Sumner (IA) Gazette

Sister of Local Plumber Killed by Train Sunday

George Holly, plumber employed at Busching hardware, received the shocking news that his sister, Mrs. Ed Lestina and husband had been killed on a railroad crossing a quarter of a mile from their home while they were on their way to church in Monona that morning about 7 o'clock.

Mrs. Lestina died instantly and Mr. Lestina died before they could get medical aid for him. The car was dragged several rods and then hurled off the track.

The accident happened at a point where the Milwaukee railroad crosses a dirt side road. The crossing is a dangerous one. It is at the foot of a hill with trees on both sides partially obscuring the view.

Mr. and Mrs. Holly left for Monona immediately after receiving the news.

From the July 29, 1936, edition of the Clayton County Register (Elkader, Ia.)

Two Killed in Train-Auto Crash Near Monona Sunday

Couple Was On Way To Early Mass

Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Lestina Victims When Special Freight Crashes Into Their Car

A double tragedy at 7:15 a.m. Sunday took the life of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Lestina in a train-auto crash about a mile north of Primary No. 18 and east of Monona.

Mr. and Mrs. Lestina were on their way to attend early mass at St. Patrick's Catholic church in Monona. As they were on the tracks, a special freight train from the west crashed into their car, instantly killing Mrs. Lestina and fracturing Mr. Lestina's neck. He died enroute to Monona in an ambulance.

W. Jewell was engineer of the train and W.P. Cross was conductor. The train was stopped immediately after the accident and a call sent to Monona for the ambulance.

The Lestina car was badly crushed on the right side and carried a distance of about 120 feet, where it stopped against a fence. The car was pointed north after the accident and the bodies of both victims were on the ground when found.

Surviving Mr. Lestina are his aged mother, Mrs. Kathryn Lestina; one brother, Benjamin F. Lestina, and five sisters, Mrs. Frank Klima and Mrs. Mary Blietz of Monona, Mrs. Ben Klima of Milwaukee, Mrs. John Marovets of Ionia, and Mrs. Francis Papachek of Norwich, S.D.

Mrs. Lestina, nee Elizabeth Holly, was the daughter of Mrs. Mary Holly and the late John Holly of near Monona. Besides her aged mother, five sisters and eight brothers [illegible] Mrs. George Montgomery, Mrs. William J. Schroeder, and Mrs. Benjamin F. Lestina of Monona, Mrs. John Johnson of Marquette, Mrs. Mary Fibiker of Boone, Frank Holly, John G. Holly, Albert Holly, Vencilof Holly and Elmer Holly, all of near Monona, Jacob Holly and Joseph Holly of Farmersburg, and George Holly of Sumner.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning from St. Patrick's Catholic church. The pastor, Rev. Father Luke Donlon, sang the mass of requiem and sang the prayers at the grave.

Mr. and Mrs. Lestina were faithful members of St. Patrick's Catholic church, and their sudden demise was a big shock to the parishioners, as well as to members of their families. They were always ready to do their part and were always present at mass together. They lived for one another and were especially good to their mothers. The Register sympathizes with their mothers, sisters and brothers in their sad bereavement.