Note: portrait

Published in the July 24, 1952 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

POLIO IS FATAL TO SPICKLER, 42

First Polio Victim

Elliott Spickler, Blair Businessman, Dies Following Short Illness

Episcopal Rites Set for 2:30 Today

The dread scourge of polio rode into Blair over the week-end and left a Blair businessman dead in its wake.

Dead is Elliott Spickler, 42, of 500 West South St., who with his father, Dee Spickler, has for a number of years operated the Blair Distributing Co., handling Storz beer between Omaha and Sioux City.

Mr. Spickler first complained of being ill last Thursday, and on Saturday was taken to Clarkson Hospital in Omaha. His illness was diagnosed as bulbar polio, and he was removed to Douglas County Hospital.

He died Monday evening.

The Blairite was in an iron lung at the time of his death.

With the announcement of his death, it was announced that a cargo plane bearing five iron lungs was winging its way toward Omaha. The iron lungs were being flown from Los Angeles to augment the supply of “standby” lungs as Omaha’s two polio wards filled to capacity with victims of infantile paralysis. Nebraska communities, too, sped iron lungs to Omaha and by Monday there are 31 on hand, but only three on “standby” due to the emergency.

Has Wife and Son, 10

Mr. Spickler is survived by his wife, Alyce; a son, Kirby Spickler, 10; a stepson, Gene Cochran; and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dee Spickler, of West and Washington Sts.

The body has been removed to the Bendorf Funeral Home.

The funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church today (Thursday) at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. Francis G. Havill is to officiate, with burial to follow in Blair Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Robert Wulf, Milton Hansen, Kent Morgan, Leonard Waring, Lester Norgaard and Boyd Hammond.

Elliott D. Spickler was born on the Spickler farm two miles southwest of Barada, Nebr., on Jan. 12, 1910. He attended Falls City High School. He and Alyce Cochran of Falls City were married Dec. 26, 1931.

Mr. Spickler, during his years of residence here, was an ardent sportsman, spending much time hunting and fishing along the Missouri River. He was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, the B.P.O.E. and Fraternal Order of Eagles.

His death was the first polio fatality of 1952 in and near Washington County.

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

FindaGrave memorial # 119274083

Note: B.P.O.E. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks)