Ortman, Harold (1919-1938)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 Mar 16 p. 1

Birth date: 1919

text of obituary:

TRAGEDY ON HIGHWAY AT NEWTON

Nineteen Year Old High School Student Almost Instantly Killed Friday.

Stark tragedy again waited on the highway near Newton last Friday night when Harold Ortman, 19 year old son of mr. and Mrs. Fred Ortman living seven miles southwest of Moundridge, was almost instantly killed on his way home from Newton with a group of high school students.

Ortman and three companions — Ben Luginbill, Ralph Stucky and Orland Goering, had stopped on Highway No. 81, one mile north of Newton to assist a friend who had trouble with his car. The friend's car was stalled in the line of traffic, but the difficulty was already remedied when the four young men arrived. Stopping to talk for a few minutes, Ortman was standing on the left side of the stalled car, evidently too near the cent of the highway, when a large transport truck came from the opposite direction and he was caught by the tank trailer attached to the rear.

Carried along for several feet he suffered a fractured skull and other internal injuries from which he died within a short time afterward. He was rushed to the Axtell-Christian hospital but passed away without regaining consciousness.

The driver of the truck reported that he had seen no one in the line of traffic but had noticed it immediately that his truck had struck someone. The driver was held by officers for investigation.

Together with a large number of other high school students in this part of the state, the four young men had attended the basketball tournament in Newton on Friday evening. the whole community was shocked at the sudden death of the young man, whose character and abilities promised a useful life.

Funeral services were held last Sunday at the First Mennonite church of Christian at Moundridge. Rev. P. P. Wedel, minster of the church officiated, and the en's chorus of the church served with three appropriate selections. The church was by far too small to accommodate the large concourse of friedns and relatives 2ho came to attend.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 May 11 p. 5
The Mennonite obituary: 1938 Apr 5 p. 14