BURNS FATAL TO HOWARD HASS OF ARLINGTON

Kerosene Can Exploded, Causing Third Degree Burns

Howard Hass, 15 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Hass of Arlington, suffered third degree burns Tuesday evening when a kerosene can exploded in his hand. He was rushed to Dodge County Hospital in Fremont.

Word this morning is to the effect that Howard died at 9 o’clock this Thursday morning. Besides the parents he leaves two brothers, Junior and LeRoy, and one sister, Darlene.

Shortly after supper it is learned Howard threw some kerosene into a heating stove in the Hass dining room. The can exploded, throwing burning oil over his body. His mother, who was working in the kitchen at the time of the accident, tried to help her son extinguish the flame with a rug, but he dashed out of doors to roll in the snow. Mrs. Hass also received burns as she ran into the flaming room, thinking he might have fallen there, before she discovered that he was outside.

Mrs. Henry Kemper, a neighbor, helped cut the burning clothing from the youth. Howard suffered serious burns about the chest, abdomen, legs and arms. Mrs. Hass was burned on her left arm and about her face and neck.

Darlene Hass, who was in the room with her brother, escaped injury. The woodwork and walls of the dining room and kitchen were badly damaged, and the whole house was smoked. Prompt action of the fire department, located across the street from the Hass home, saved the house.

#2-Published in the Pilot-Tribune January 29, 1942

RITES HELD FOR BOY, 15

VICTIM OF EXPLOSION BURNS IS BURIED IN ST. PAUL'S CHURCH CEMETERY

Services for Howard Hass, 15 year-old Arlington boy who died when a kerosene can exploded, were held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Reckmeyer Funeral Home in Arlington, followed by services at St. Paul's Lutheran Church north of Arlington. The Rev. G. W. Wolter officiated, and school mates were pallbearers. Music was furnished by a group from the Blair high school choir. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Howard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Hass, received his fatal injuries last Tuesday while pouring kerosene on the low burning fire in a stove, when an explosion blew the bottom out of the container for the fuel and threw flames over him and the room. His mother was burned, less seriously, when she dashed into the room as the explosion occurred and tried to help put out the flames.

The youth, a ninth-grade student at Arlington high school was a member of the junior basketball team. Born in Blair, he moved with his parents to Arlington 14 years ago.

Surviving are his parents; two brothers, Julius, Jr., 17, and LeRoy, 7; and a sister, Darlene, 13.

#3 Published in the Enterprise January 29, 1942

SERVICES HELD FOR HOWARD HASS, 15

Funeral services for Howard Hass, 15-year-old Arlington boy who died Thursday morning in the Dodge County Hospital, were held Saturday afternoon at Reckmeyer Funeral Chapel in Arlington. The chapel was crowded with relatives and friends; faculty members and Howard’s schoolmates from the Arlington School attended in a body.

Rev. G. W. Wolter conducted the brief service. Interment was made in the cemetery of S. Paul’s church, of which Howard was a member. Pallbearers were six classmates, Richard Paulson, Leo Ray Rosenkilde, Earl Walkenhorst, Victor Stork, Gerald Scheer, and Douglas Kelly.

Howard’s death was the result of burns received Tuesday evening when he poured kerosene on a stove fire at this home. Born in Blair, he moved with his parents to Arlington when he was only a year old. He was a freshman in the Arlington High School and a member of the Junior high basketball team.

Survivors are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Hass; two brothers, Julius, Jr., and LeRoy; and a sister, Darlene.

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

Find A Grave Memorial# 74315533

(St. Paul's Cemetery is also known as God's Acre.)