Shettler, William Edward (1907-1942)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1942 Aug 6 p. 1

Birth date: 1907 Aug 29

text of obituary:

Electric Shock Fatal To Wm. Shettler Of Wellman, Iowa

APPROXIMATELY 2,000 ATTENDED FUNERAL AT EAST UNION MENNONITE CHURCH

Wellman, Iowa. — Approximately 2,000 people attended the funeral services held Friday morning, July 31, at the East Union Mennonite church for W9illiam Shettler, whose tragic death occurred Monday noon, July 27.

Mr. Shettler was blasting rocks at his limestone quarry north of Wellman, using a car battery to set off the charge with a long wire connected to the fuse. As the charge went off the detonator wire was blown over the nearby high line wire, which sent the high-voltage current directly through Mr. Shettler's body.

Nearly 10 minutes elapsed before other workers could shut off the current or ground the wire. Mr. Shettler was rushed to Dr. Miller's office where a several-hours effort to revive him with an inhalator proved unsuccessful.

Rev. Edward Diener had charge of the services at the home and also at the grave.

In his introductory address at the funeral services in the East Union church, Kalona, Rev. Gideon G. Yoder, camp director at Denison, Ia., said, "I have lost the best friend of my youth . . . We prayed together, studied God's Word together and sympathized with each other in all our problems." Other ministers participating in the service were Rev. George Miller and Rev. W. S. Gingerich.

Mr. Shettler was born near Crystal Springs, Kansas, August 29, 1907. He was the son of Edward and Mary (Troyer) Shettler, who with his deeply bereaved wife (Gertrude Hochstetler Shettler) and four children now mourn his too early departure.

Pallbearers were Milton WSummers, Lester Reber, Earl R. Gingerich, Ellie Hartzler, Merton Schweitzer, and Lloyd Troyer. Interment was made in East Union cemetery.