Diem, Melvin (1919-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Aug 6 p. 1

Birth date: 1919

text of obituary:

Tractor Accident Fatal To Father of Eight

40-YEAR-OLD LANCASTER COUNTY FARMER DIES OF BACK INJURIES

Lancaster, Pa. — A farm accident recently claimed the life of Melvin Diem, 40-year-old farmer of the Myerstown community and father of eight children.

Mr. Diem had just finished baling straw and was backing the tractor and baler into the barn when apparently the tractor axle broke and the brakes failed. The tractor and baler started down the barn incline and as they gained momentum he leaped from the tractor, landing on his back. The tractor went over a six-foot retaining wall.

The badly injured farmer was taken to the hospital, where doctors found that several vertebrae were broken. Death occurred four days later, the result of a blood clot in the lungs.

Funeral services were held at the Myerstown Mennonite Church, and burial was made at the Groffdale cemetery.

Surviving are the widow, the former Arlene Wilson, eight children, his father and four brothers.