Rites Today For Russell Sylvis, Accident Victim

Blair Boy, 18, Died Monday In Chicago Motorcycle Accident

Graduated In 1933 From Blair Schools

Youth Left Blair Last Summer After Graduation To Live With Uncle In Chicago, While Attending College There This Year

Injuries received when his motorcycle overturned in Chicago Sunday afternoon proved fatal early Monday morning to Russell Sylvis, 18, son of Mrs. Mable Sylvis of Blair. The youth died of head injuries despite frantic efforts on the part of Chicago surgeons to save his life.

Since last summer Russell had been visiting his uncle, Stanley Bracken, formerly of Blair but now mayor of LaGrange, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Mr. Bracken is vice-president of the Teletype corporation and is an executive in the Western Electric company of Chicago. Russell had been attending junior college in LaGrange preparatory to entering university next fall.

Chicago police explained the accident, in which no other vehicle was involved by saying the stand dropped at the side of the motorcycle, lifting the machine off the ground as the youth leaned on a turn. He was unconscious when witnesses reached the scene, and was rushed at once to a hospital.

A brother, William, left Blair Sunday evening for Chicago upon receipt of a message telling of the accident, but failed to reach the bedside before his brother’s death. He returned from Illinois with the body, coming by train as far as Missouri Valley, where a party was awaiting the arrival Wednesday morning. The cortege then proceeded to Blair by auto.

Russell Bracken Sylvis was born in Craig, Nebraska, November 1, 1915, and was 18 years, 4 months and 4 days of age at the time of his death. He came to Blair in 1921, when six years old, and lived here the rest of his life, with the exception of his junior year in high school, when he studied at LaGrange.

He graduated from Blair high school last year with the graduating class of 1933. While in high school he was active in athletic circles, being a member of the track and football teams. In the 1932 season he was a regular member of the football squad, playing right guard.

While in junior high school he was a member of Boy Scout troop 147, connected with Dana college of Blair. He was a First Class scout and earned six merit badges.

When school was out last summer, he left immediately to spend the vacation period with his uncle and family at Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin. This custom he had observed for several years, being a lover of the outdoors. When vacation was over he enrolled in the college at LaGrange. His last visits with his family in Blair were during the Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations.

Surviving are his mother, and five brothers, Charles, William, Robert, Bernard, and Auburt, all of Blair; his uncle and family, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Bracken, their son, Stanley, jr., and daughter, Marjorie of LaGrange; and four aunts, Misses An?, Ruth, Helen and ? all of Omaha.

Funeral services are being held this afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Blair Methodist church, with Rev. W. H. Jackson, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in the Blair cemetery. Prof. Harry Langley of Blair high school will render several vocal selections.

Pall-bearers will be George Campbell, William Stevens, Wayne Dudgeon, Edgar Short, David Harding and Carl Christensen, all schoolmates and close friends of Russell.

Note: On Find A Grave record #42411380: born 1 Nov 1915; died 5 Mar 1934

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