Dyck, Gene Leon (1945-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jul 3 p. 1

Birth date: 1945

text of obituary:

Services Held at Whitewater For Three Children Who Died in Fire

EMMAUS CHURCH FILLED TO OVERFLOWING FOR TRIPLE SERVICES

Whitewater, Kan. — One of the largest funerals held here within recent years took place Tuesday forenoon as triple services were held at the Emmaus Mennonite Church for the three younger children of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Dyck who died when fire destroyed the Dyck residence southeast of Elbing.

Sorrowing relatives and friends filled the church to overflowing, a number listening to the service from outside the building. Rev. L. R. Amstutz, the pastor, officiated, and burial was made in the church cemetery.

Victims of the tragedy which struck the Dyck home early last Saturday morning were Gene, 13, Barbara, 8, and Norma, 7. They were sleeping on the second floor of the large frame house and the parents on the first floor.

The parents were awakened about 4:30 a. m. by the screams of one of the children. Finding the stairway blocked by flames, they called to the children to jump from a window, but only heard the response, “I can't, I can't.”

The Peabody fire department answered the call to the scene but found the house nearly consumed. The cause of the fire was not definitely determined. It was thought that either a butane gas water heater or defective wiring might have been responsible.

Survivors in addition to the parents include a brother, Willis Dyck, and a sister, Mrs. James (Virginia) Cook, both of Newton; and a grandmother, Mrs. J. E. Rempel of Hillsboro.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Oct 16 p. 8