Giesbrecht (Mrs.) (d. 1936)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1936 Mar 4 p. 1

Birth date:

text of obituary:

COLD WEATHER BRINGS TRAGEDY TO IMMIGRANTS

According to a report appearing in an exchange, a most tragic incident occurred at St. Boswell, Canada, on Feb. 10 when all members of the Giesbrecht family, immigrants from Russia, became seriously ill, evidently from ptomaine poisoning. The mother and baby of the family died.

Mr. Giesbrecht having returned home from a trip to town, canned fish were served at the evening meal. Later as Mr. Giesbrecht was cleaning the stove and chimney at the home, he suddenly became violently ill and unconscious. As there was but a small fire in the stove and the room became cold, Mrs. Giesbrecht endeavored to put the stovepipes into place, but became ill also. Outside the thermometer registered 30 degrees below zero.

At about midnight Mr. Giesbrecht regained his consciousness and found the room very cold. The baby and the mother passed away soon afterward as the result of exposure.

The three year old son was saved in that the father wrapped him warmly and then rushed to a neighboring home to call for help. He arrived there with a badly frozen face, which intensified his illness,but hopes were entertained for his recovery.

Funeral services for the mother and baby were held after a thorough investigation of the tragedy had been made by local authorities.