Kuhlmann, Maria Dyck (1874-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Jul 26 p. 1, 3

Birth date: 1874 Jul 5

text of obituary:

Kuhlmann Family In Tragic Auto Accident

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MRS. KUHLMANN, GRANDSON HELD AT WHITEWATER

The Emmaus Mennonite church at Whitewater was filled to capacity, Wednesday, 4:00 p.m., by sorrowing relatives, friends and acquaintances at the funeral of Mrs. Maria Kuhlmann, 77, and her grandson, David Kuhlmann, 14, both of whom died of injuries received in the highway accident of Rev. Paul Kuhlmann family at Casper, Wyoming last week.

The services were in charge of the pastor, Rev. Walter H. Dyck, a nephew of the deceased Mrs. Kuhlmann. Rev. August Ewert, business manager of Grace Bible Institute, Omaha, Nebr., preached the sermon. The bodies were laid to rest in the Zion church cemetery.

Services for the immediate family were held at 3:00 o’clock at the home of Rev. H. J. Dyck in Elbing, conducted by Rev. Eli Cook of the Missionary church.

Missionary Ernest Kuhlman, husband of Mrs. Maria Kuhlman, received the message of his wife’s death in Germany, where he was visiting since May. He returned immediately by plane, reaching Omaha at 3:00 a.m., Sunday, July 22, and with Rev. Walter H. Dyck was present at the Santa Fe station as the bodies arrived in Newton early Tuesday morning.

On Vacation Trip

The accident occurred 10 miles northwest of Casper on U. S. 20 at 4:30 p. m., Wednesday, July 18 as the Kuhlmanns were on their way for a vacation in Yellowstone National Park. Driver of the car was Rev. Kuhlman, dean of Grace Bible Institute, Omaha, Nebr. With him were his wife, Helene; his mother, Mrs. Maria Kuhlmann and their children, David, 13 Ruth, 11, Grace, 9, Ernest, 7, and Johnnie, 4.

Grandmother Kuhlmann died at the scene of accident and David in Memorial Hospital in Casper at 1:30 a.m. during the following night. Neither had regained consciousness.

Still In Hospital

The remaining family members are still hospitalized in Casper, Mrs. Helene Kuhlmann and Ruth being the two most seriously injured.

Mrs. Kuhlmann is in shock, has a broken right arm, a fracture below the right knee and multiple lacerations, while Ruth suffers of concussion and head injuries. Rex Kuhlman had a dislocated hip and painful bruises.

Driver of the other car involved in the crosh [sic] was William C. ing [sic King], of Alvora, Texas, a pipeline worker with a construction company operating in Wyoming. Highway patrolmen arriving at the scene said he had just passed another car on a curve farther up the road and for some reason stayed on the wrong side even though he had ample time to get back into his lane. Skidmarks from the Kuhlmann car showed for 97 feet investigators said, as Rev. Kuhlmann tried vainly tried to avoid the crash. As he remembers it, he must have slowed down to about 30 miles per hour but was still hit with such terrific impact by the other car that the vehicles telescoped.

King died about three hours after the crash.

Many Try To Help

Rev. Walter H. Dyck flew to Casper, Thursday, July 19, remaining there three days to complete arrangements for sending the bodies to Newton. Mrs. Erhard Schroeder, mother of Mrs. Helene Kuhlmann, two brothers, Edwin Schroeder and wife and Oscar Schroeder, all of Paso Robles, have gone to Casper by car and are now with the family there.

The passing of Mrs. Maria Kuhlmann is the first death among the adult children of the Jacob Dycks, a well known pioneer family at Elbing. She is survived by the sister, Mrs. Sam Fielder of Newton, and three brothers. Rev. H. J. Dyck, Herman Dyck and Frank Dyck, all of Elbing.

Missionaries in China

Rev. and Mrs. Ernst Kuhlmann were missionaries in China for over 30 years. Following their return to America after the war, they lived with their son Paul in Omaha, but, being a native of Germany, the elder Kuhlmann left for another visit to his homeland before returning to this country permanently.

Rev. Walter H. Dyck told of heart-touching expressions of sympathy and kindness received by the Rev. Paul Kuhlmanns from individuals and groups, and from the community of Casper. Their wide circle of friends wish for all a quick and complete recovery and God’s sustaining grace in their tragic bereavement.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Aug 9 p. 9