FINGER INJURY IS FATAL TO FARMER

AUGUST UNKEL, FORMER COUNTY RESIDENT, DIES AT NICKERSON

An injury to the index finger of his right hand resulted in a fatal attack of lockjaw to August Unkel, 54, farmer living northeast of Nickerson. Mr. Unkel, who died Friday morning in a Fremont hospital, was formerly a resident of Fontanelle and was well-known there, having been almost a lifetime resident of that community.

On November 4 he had caught the end of his finger in a gasoline engine which he was using to operate a pump. It became necessary to amputate the finger at the first joint. He appeared to be on the road to quick recovery until Wednesday, when lockjaw set in, and he was taken to Fremont in an ambulance. Mr. Unkel was born in Germany August 1, 1879, and came to America when he was four years of age. They settled near Fontanelle, and he had never resided more than a few miles from that neighborhood since. He was long a member of Salem Lutheran church at Fontanelle.

He had married Miss Pearl Lorenz at Falls City in 1912. She survives him, as do three daughters, four brothers, and three sisters.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in Fontanelle Lutheran church, with Rev. R. Moehring in charge. A quartet. composed of George Niebaum, Dalton Strenger, Miss Martha Hartung and Miss Marthella Strenger, sang several selections. Pallbearers were Ernest Sexon, Henry Edelmeyer, Peter Knudsen, John Martin, H. P. Wilkening and A. H. Strenger. Burial was in the cemetery at Fontanelle.

An unfortunate happening brought more grief to the bereaved family Friday as they were arranging rites for Mr. Unkel. Flames destroyed the Unkel home while the family was in Nickerson, causing damage estimated at $2,700. All contents except a washing machine were destroyed. The fire spread to the barns and granaries, but these were saved by chemicals.

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

FindaGrave # 199699092