Person:Marion Blietz (1)

From the June 11, 1947, edition of the Postville (IA) Herald

Crash Victim Dies At Local Hospital

Marion Blietz, 33, of Monona, died at four o'clock Monday morning in Postville hospital from injuries suffered in an automobile accident Sunday morning.

Blietz was the driver of an automobile which was involved in a head-on collision with another car driven by LeAllen Johanningmeier, about 23, also of Monona. The accident occurred about four o'clock Sunday morning about 3 1/2 miles east of Monona on the North McGregor road.

Johanningmeier suffered a shattered jaw and other injuries and is in a Rochester hospital after being given first-aid treatment in Postville hospital. Louis Schutte took him to Rochester in his ambulance.

Riding with Blietz in his car were Ben Havlicek and Helen Lestina, both of Monona. Havlicek was in Postville hospital Monday with severe cuts on the legs but Miss Lestina escaped serious injury and was taken to her home.

Johanningmeier was alone in his car.

A heavy fog which blanketed the area at the time was blamed for the accident.

Blietz is survived by his mother, Mrs. Mary Blietz, and a brother, Giles Blietz, of Garnavillo. All three men involved in the mishap were ex-servicemen.

From the June 12, 1947, edition of the Elgin (IA) Echo

Dies in Crash Near Monona

Marion Blietz, 29, of Monona, died in the Postville hospital Monday as a result of injuries suffered Sunday morning when the car he was driving collided head-on with another machine driven by Lee Allen Johanningsmeier, also of Monona.

The accident happened 4 miles east of Monona on a gravel road in the fog.

Johanningsmeier, a nephew of Mrs. John Kiple, West Union, suffered a lower broken jaw and was taken to a hospital in Rochester, Minn.

From the June 12, 1947, edition of the Clayton County Register (Elkader, Ia.)

First Traffic Fatality Came Early Monday

Marion Blietz Died at Postville After Crash Sunday Morning; Three Others Were Injured

Clayton county had its first traffic fatality this year when death came to Marion Blietz, 29, of Monona, as a result of a collision early Sunday morning on the road between Monona and Marquette. According to information released by the sheriff's office, Blietz was taken to the Postville hospital with a punctured lung and a crushed chest. He died there Monday morning.

Lee Allen Johanningmeier, driver of the second car, was taken to Rochester hospital with multiple jaw fractures and possible internal injuries incurred when the crash threw his head forward, shattering the steering wheel of his 1947 Chevrolet.

Passengers of the Blietz car, Helen Lestina and Ben Havlicek, received minor injuries in the crash and were taken to the Postville hospital. Miss Lestina, who suffered bruises, was released from the hospital shortly after entrance. Havlicek was hospitalized with a badly cut leg.

Johanningmeier, 23-year-old McGregor farmer, was driving east on the Marquette-Monona road when the collision with Blietz's 1936 Chevrolet occurred. There was heavy fog at the time of the accident.

Following the accident, Miss Lestina and Mr. Havlicek walked to the Alvin Marting farm for aid. Marting, once awakened by the victims of the early morning accident, went to the scene of the crash and took all four of the injured to the hospital.

Blietz is survived by his mother, Mrs. Mary Blietz, Monona, and a brother, Giles Blietz, Garnavillo.