Grundman, Hilbert Fred (1927-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Jul 2 p. 3

Birth date: 1927 Mar 19

text of obituary:

Services At Wichita For Driver of Gas Truck

HILBERT GRUNDMAN, TWO TRAINMEN DIE IN FIERY CRASH AT CROSSING

Wichita, Kans. — Funeral services for Hilbert W.[sic Fred] Grundman, 26, who was instantly killed here Saturday when the gasoline transport he was driving was struck by a Rock Island Rocket train, were held Tuesday forenoon at the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite church. Rev. G. S. Stoneback, the pastor, officiated.

Mr. Grundman, a native of the Moundridge community, is survived by his wife, Helen, two children, Edna E. and Keith Allen, and a step-son, Jimmie Williams; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Grundman of Valley Center; three brothers, Walter of Wichita, Milton of Moundridge, and Harvey in Korea; and one sister, Mrs. Esther Kater of Mulvane.

Witnesses to the tragic crash stated that the truck driven by Mr. Grundman stopped momentarily at the crossing, and then pulled into the path of the speeding passenger train. A terrific explosion and flash of fire followed as the truck was crumpled into a mass of wreckage.

The train continued on through the flames and was brought to a stop about a mile away by an automatic safety device. A short time later the bodies of Walter Keith, 56, the engineer, and Harold G Mowat, 56, the fireman, both of Herington, were removed from the charred diesel engine. The passengers and other crew members were uninjured.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Jul 9 p. 9

text of obituary:

HILBERT F. GRUNDMAN

Hilbert Fred Grundman was born March 19, 1927, to Fred and Carolina Albrecht Gundman,[sic] at Moundridge, Kansas. With the family, he later moved to Valley Center, Kansas, where he attended grade school and high school.

On April 13, 1941, he was baptized upon confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and was received as a member of the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite church where he remained a faithful member until his sudden tragic death.

He was united in marriage to Helen Albrecht on January 16, 1949. To this union were born two children, Edna Evonne (Jan. 6, 1950) and Keith Allen (March 11, 1951).

He is survived by the widow Helen Grundman; the two children just mentioned; a step-son Jimmie D. Williams; his parents; a sister, Mrs. Eldon Kater of Mulvane, Kansas; and three brothers, Milton, of Moundridge, Walter of Wichita, and Harvey, now on Punch Bowl Hill in Korea.

Hilbert was a helpful, dutiful son, helping his parents with farm work on many occasions after his regular working hours. He was kind and loving husband and father, caring well for his family. Evidence of this is the home just completed recently. He enjoyed life and tried to help his relatives and friends do so also.

This is the first break in the circle of this fine Christian family. We pray God’s strength and guidance to help the wife, children, parents and brothers and sister meet this loss with triumphant faith in Him who gave His life that through Him we might have new, radiant, everlasting life!

We rejoice in the memory of our beloved son, husband, father, brother, friend; commending his spirit unto God, our Father, knowing that “He that raised up Jesus from the dead will also quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in us.” (Romans 8:11.)

The Mennonite obituary: 1953 Jul 21 p. 448