Person:Walter Linton Marzolf (1)

OBITUARY

Death of Walter Marzolf

Walter L. Marzolf, 45, met an untimely death early Thursday morning, Aug. 31, when he was crushed to death beneath his tractor, a short distance east of his home. The accident happened sometime after midnight and came to light at about 5:15 a.m., when William V. Seaver, who resides on Neve place, found the tractor lying upside down across the road from his driveway, with Marzolf beneath it. Marzolf had been using the tractor for transportation.

Mr. Seaver called relatives and notified Marshal Reimbold, who called the coroner, and the remains were removed to the Sharman funeral home where an inquest was held Thursday night.

Mr. Seavers testified at the inquest that he found the body pinned to the ground in a ditch on the south side of the road, with the steering wheel crushed against his chest and one fender across his face. He also testified that the night was foggy. The tractor was equipped with lights, but Marzolf apparently drove into the ditch without seeing it, and turned the tractor wheel too short in attempting to get back on the road. One foot was caught between the clutch pedal and another part of the machine.

Walter L. Marzolf, son of the late John and Susan Koehler Marzolf, was born in Nauvoo on Jan. 26, 1905. He was baptized in Christ Lutheran church and lived in this community all of his life. He engaged in farming as an occupation. He served in the army in World War II in Battery E of the 56th Coast Artillery from March 1942 to April 1943 and was honorably discharge with the rating of corporal. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Fort Madison, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Mason and Raymond, and one sister, Fern. Surviving are one sister, Mrs. J. B. Whitlock, and two nephews, John Lynnton and Stanley Jay Whitlock. His sister and family had visited him the day before, and were located at Centralia, Ill., arriving here that evening.

Funeral services were held in the Sharman funeral home Saturday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. John J. Bahuth officiating. Military rites were conducted at the grave by the American Legion and V.F.W. Burial was in the city cemetery. The pall bearers were Fred Wagner, Everett Kinyoun, Joseph Pilkington, Delbert Lutz, Everett Seaver and Harold Haas.

Out of town relatives and friends attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Matsch, Burlington,; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Quest and Frank Schleicher, Quincy; Leo Wallace and Earl Schaefer, Orient, Iowa, and J. J. Faulkner, Chicago.

Walter liked to hunt and fish. He was an expert rifleman, receiving 4 medals for marksmanship in the army and qualified as sharpshooter with the M-1 rifle. He was ever ready to extend a helping hand when the occasion arose. He will be missed from a large circle of friends.