Person:John Lestina (1)

From the February 28, 1924, edition of the Postville (IA) Herald

McGregor Man Crushed To Death Under Train

McGregor, Feb. 25th - Special to Dubuque Telegraph Herald: John George Lestina was run over and killed by a northbound freight train about three o'clock Sunday morning. The engineer saw him walking dangerously near the track, between the depot platform and the rails and put the brakes on to stop the train, but it was a heavy double-header and before it came to a stop Lestina had stepped over into the middle of the track, was knocked down and dragged a few feet.

Coroner W.J. Beerman of Guttenburg was notified and came up and empaneled a jury which viewed the remains, but will not hold the inquest until Tuesday, when the train crew ran by here. The remains were taken to the home of his brother near Beulah, and the funeral will be held in the Bohemian Catholic church near Beulah, with burial in St. Vincent's cemetery.

He is survived by his wife; his aged father, Albert Lestina, his brothers Albert and F.A. Lestina, and sisters Mrs. F. Samek of Postville, Mrs. John Moses and Mrs. Albert Moses of near Monona.

John George Lestina was 31 years old and had lived in this county all his life. He had been chopping wood on Pleasant Ridge lately and came to town Saturday morning. It is not known where he spent the day or how he happened to be on the railroad track.