Since the exact death date was not given, the date of the newspaper article was used. Published in The Enterprise, November 16, 1972

STANLEY SVENDGARD IS VICTIM OF PLANE CRASH IN PLATTE RIVER

ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE SOME TIME SUNDAY BEFORE DAYBREAK

Stanley Svendgard, son of Andrew Svendgard of Blair and Washington County, was killed early Sunday when an airplane he was piloting crashed into the Platte River just south of Fremont. The plane struck the water a short distance upstream from the Highway 77 bridge and was easily visible from the highway.

Mr. Svendgard was a truck driver who did custom hauling in several states. He had been living with his brother, Andy Svendgard Jr. in Arlington. Because of Stan Svendgard’s type of work, he was often gone for several days at a time on long runs.

Mr. Svendgard’s airplane was discovered in the Platte River some 350 feet west of the highway bridge south of Fremont. The airplane was noticed at about 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning by a motorist driving across the Platte River bridge. The tail of the airplane was sticking out of the water.

Fremont Fire and Rescue squadsmen were called to the scene and had to take a boat out to the wreckage. Mr. Svendgard’s body was found just a few feet away from the fuselage trapped under water. The plane was near a sand bar in the river and was in only a few inches of water. The Federal Aviation Authority sealed off the area and the body was taken to Omaha for an autopsy. Monday the body was taken to the Campbell Mortuary in Blair. Results of the autopsy were not available as this paper went to press.

Officials are now speculating that there may have been another person with Svendgard when the plane crashed into the Platte River. Paul Chudomelka, in his late 30’s, was reported to have been seen with Svendgard in two different Fremont night spots Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The two men had been seen together at the El Coco Restaurant and Marion’s Villa. The last time the two were seen was about 1:15 a.m. Chudomelka’s car was found in the lot of Marion’s Villa after he had ridden to El Coco’s with Svendgard. It is theorized that the two may have taken an airplane ride from the Fremont Airport some time after 1:15 a.m. on Sunday.

The Fremont airport does not have a control tower and no record is kept of aircraft departing or arriving at that time of the morning in Fremont. There were no flight plans filed with the nearest Flight Service office, which is located in Omaha.

Andrew Svendgard, in Arlington, said that his brother had been on a trucking job for the preceding four days and he was not even aware that his brother was back in the area with his truck. Both Stan and Andrew Svendgard were pilots and kept their Piper Commanche at the Fremont airport.

Stan was the son of Andrew Svendgard Sr. of 2348 Fontanelle Blvd., of Blair. Stan attended Blair High School. Other survivors include his brother Andrew Jr., of Arlington; Richard of Blair; and James of Worchester, Miss. Surviving sisters are: Mrs. Betty Stoetzel of Hastings and Judith Svendgard of Pomona, California.

Funeral services are being held at the United Methodist Church in Blair today, Thursday, and burial will be made in the Blair cemetery. The Rev. Charles Gates is conducting the service and burial is under the direction of the Campbell Mortuary.

Pallbearers are William Lippincott, Charles Dornacker, Willard VanBuren, Milo Wormstead, Martin Chapman and Burt Merriweather.