Ft. Calhoun Cadet Victim of Accident

Robert Suverkrubbe, 19, Killed In Navy Plane Crash In Iowa

Naval Aviation Cadet Robert Suverkrubbe, 19-year-old Ft. Calhoun youth, died in a plane crash near Agency, Ia., Tuesday. The country boy, son of Mrs. Frances Suverkrubbe of Ft. Calhoun, was in the final phase of his training at the Naval Air base in Ottumwa, Ia., and was to have received his “wings” within a short time.

Injured in the crash was Seaman 2/c Frankly H. Chidester, 18, Canton, O. who is confined to the Ottumwa station hospital, where attendants report his condition as “Serious but not critical”. Born on November 8, 1924, Cadet Suverkrubbe attended Ft. Calhoun high school. He enlisted at the Naval Cadet Selection Board, Kansas City, Mo., on December 8, 1942.

Beginning his training as a student pilot on April 15, 1943, young Suverkrubbe was stationed for four months at Mount Vernon, Ia., where he ranked among the top, by both academic and physical standards. He received 70 hours of flight training at Cottonwood, Ariz., before entering the rigorous Navy physical program at Del Monte, Calif. He spent three months at Del Monte for physical and aeronautical training, and upon graduation of his battalion, Suverkrubbe was among the upper 10%.

After a furlough spent in Ft. Calhoun, Cadet Suvekrubbe entered the naval air station at Hutchinson, Kan., on January 18, for primary flight training. On February 26 he, together with other members of his battalion, was sent to Ottumwa, Ia., to enter the final phase of primary flight training. He had received some 100 hours instruction in the air at the time of the accident which took his life.

Robert was baptized in the Ft. Calhoun Presbyterian church in 1930, had begun regular Sunday school attendance at the age of four.

Surviving Suverkrubbe are his mother, a younger brother, Albert Lee Suverkrubbe, at home, and his grandfather, Detlef Wulf of Ft. Calhoun.

Funeral rites were conducted at the Ft. Calhoun Presbyterian church., Wednesday afternoon, the Rev. Jackson of Florence in charge. The American Legion post of Blair presided over graveside rites, which took place in Ft. Calhoun cemetery.

Pallbearers were Cadet Robert Nicols, who accompanied the body from Ottumwa, Ia.; Richard Geesamann, Leonard Schmidt, Earl Suverkrubbe, and Gran Tietgen of Ft. Calhoun; and Dean Eddie of Carroll, Nebr.

#2-4 May, 1944 - The Enterprise

FT. CALHOUN MAN KILLED IN TRAINING CRASH

A-C Robert Suverkrubbe Lost Life in Crash at Ottawa, Ia. Base

A naval training plane crashed near Agency, Iowa last Saturday killing the pilot and seriously injuring another student. They were from the Ottawa, Iowa training station.

A-C Robert C. Suverkrubbe, 19 years of age, of Fort Calhoun was killed. Cadet Suverkrubbe was in the last stages of his training. He was the son of Mrs. Frances Suverkrubbe of Fort Calhoun.

Born and raised in Fort Calhoun, A-C Suverkrubbe attended the Calhoun school, and some time ago joined the armed forces and was looking forward to an opportunity to serve overseas.

His father, Albert Suverkrubbe, was killed when doing his duty as night police of Calhoun several years ago.

Young Suverkrubbe leaves to mourn him his mother and one brother, Albert.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. from the Calhoun Presbyterian church, and interment was made in the Calhoun cemetery where the services were under the auspices of the American Legion with the firing squad and the bugler taking part.

Note: Buried in the Fort Calhoun Cemetery in Plot: Section H, Block 12, Grave 5; Find a Grave # 18176784.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~