POISONED FIELD CORN IS FATAL TO 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL

DORIS JEAN SVENDGAARD DIES OF POISON AFTER MINOR OPERATION

FUNERAL RITES TO BE HELD TOMORROW

BLAIR FARM GIRL UNDERGOES TONSILLECTOMY WHILE SUFFERING, UNKNOWN TO HER PARENTS AND PHYSICIANS, FROM TOXIC POISONING

Effects of eating drouth-poisoned roasting ears Monday proved fatal Tuesday evening to Doris Jean Svendgaard, aged 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Svendgaard of west of Blair, after she had submitted to a minor operation that morning for removal of her tonsils. Unknown either to her parents or to attending physicians, toxic poisoning had set in.

Neither the poisoning resulting from eating the corn nor the tonsillectomy would have proved fatal separately, physicians stated.

While Doris Jean was on the operating table at a Fremont hospital Tuesday, both Mr. and Mrs. Svendgaard became ill from the effects of eating the homegrown field corn. At home, meanwhile, two of their youngest children, Betty and Richard were ill from the same cause. All recovered later in the day.

HOME BEFORE DEATH

Doris Jean was brought home following the operation, but at physicians’ orders was returned to the Fremont hospital a short time later when her condition grew suddenly worse. She died a few minutes after reaching the hospital.

She was born February 2, 1925, in the Blair hospital and had attended March school near her home for six years. Surviving besides her parents are a younger sister, Betty, and two brothers, Richard and Jimmie; her grandparents, Jonas Blomberg of north of Blair; and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Svendgaard of Blair.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at the home and at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church in Blair, the Rev. D. A. McCullough officiating. interment will be in Blair cemetery.

# 2 - - from Pilot-Tribune, August 27, 1936

LARGE CROWD AT FUNERAL FRIDAY FOR BLAIR GIRL

DORIS JEAN SVENDGAARD, 11, BURIED AFTER METHODIST SERVICES

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Funeral services for Doris Jean Svendgaard, 11-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Svendgaard of west of Blair, who died last Tuesday from the combined effects of eating drouth-poisoned roasting ears and submitting to a tonsillectomy, were held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Methodist church, a throng of approximately 300 persons being present. A brief service had been held at the home at 1 p.m. The Rev. D.A. McCullough, pastor, officiated, and interment was in the Blair cemetery.

Gifford L. Dixon sang during the services. Serving as pallbearers were Nels and Alvin Svendgaard, Edwin Blomberg and Shirley Williamson.

Surviving Doris Jean are her parents; a sister, Betty; two brothers, Richard and Jimmie; her grandparents, Jonas Blomberg and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Svendgaard.

#3-20 Aug., 1936 - The Enterprise COUNTY GIRL, 11, DIES FOLLOWING TONSILLECTOMY Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Svendgaard. Poison Corn as Cause Doris Jean Svendgaard, 11 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Svendgaard of near Orum, died at the Lutheran hospital in Fremont at 11 p.m. Tuesday following a tonsillectomy operation. She had eaten sweet corn the night previous, and the diagnosis of the case pointed to poisoning from that source. She was the oldest of a family of four, and was a child of pleasing personality and a general favorite among her playmates. The family have the sympathy of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Methodist church in Blair, and interment will be made in the Blair cemetery.

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

FindaGrave # 111808995