From a newspaper article dated Thursday, August 1, 1940.
"Double Funeral Held Wednesday for Father and Son, Ralph Freer and small Son, Stevenson Lake Drowning Victims"
Double funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon for Ralph Freer, 26, and his three-year-old son Allan R., who lost their lives by drowning in a tragic fishing expedition at Stevenson Lake Saturday night.
The young father and his son were reported to have gone into the lake about 5:40 in the afternoon, Saturday, according to Mrs. William Ducan, who has charge of renting boats at the north side landing. It was not until about dark that their boat was noticed returned to the shore line with part of the fishing equipment still in it. It was apparent that no landing had been made from the boat at that particular point, and a search was then begun by relatives and sheriff's officers. Sherrif Fred Thomas and a deputy, together with scores of volunteers began intensive dragging operations of the lake shortly after two o'clock in the morning, when state Police Robert Fisher and Carlos Hurley returned from Bay City with drag hooks. The body of the child was found at 2:30 the following afternoon in about 40 feet of water.
The body of the father was not located until 4:10 o'clock. Bruce Hawes located the infant's body and Ed Schumacher found that of the father. Although no one witnessed the tragic drowning, it was the belief of officers that the youngster had caught a fish and in his excitement, fallen overboard, and that the father had lost his life in attempting to rescue his son. Witnesses said that when the young boy's pole was brought to the surface of the water, a 10-inch bullhead was on the hook.
Mr. Freer had been a resident of this city for five years, being employed as a bookkeeper for the National Supply company at the time of his death. he had previously been employed in the office of Attorney M.B. Decker during 1936, and proir to that with the Oil and Gas Association of Michigan. He was born in Saginaw County June 8, 1914, and resided in Remus for several years where he was graduated from high school. he later attended business school in Grand Rapids and Central State Teachers College. Mr. Freer is survived by his wife, Ismerie, and a 16 month daughter, Barbara Ann; a sister Mrs. Clarence Caldwell, of Grand Rapids; his mother Ida Freer of Remus, and father Clarence Freer, of Midland. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Church with the Reverend Charles Mackenzie officiating.
Allan Ralph Freer
Male White
Veteran-No
Residence: Vernon Twp MI
Place of Death: Isabella County, MI
Date of Death: 7/27/1940
Age: 2
Sexton: L S Dart
Funeral Home: G J Stinson
Date of Burial: 7/31/1940
Tombstone: Yes
Source: online Riverside Cemetery Burial Records D-G, pg 351, 1-31-2012
Plot: Section 7, Block 017, Lot 004, Space 2, Spot ID 5562
Note: Little Alan is buried side-by-side with his father at the Riverside Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; the headmarkers read, "Ralph C. Freer" and "Alan R. Freer".
"Double Funeral Held Wednesday for Father and Son, Ralph Freer and small Son, Stevenson Lake Drowning Victims"
Double funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon for Ralph Freer, 26, and his three-year-old son Allan R., who lost their lives by drowning in a tragic fishing expedition at Stevenson Lake Saturday night.
The young father and his son were reported to have gone into the lake about 5:40 in the afternoon, Saturday, according to Mrs. William Ducan, who has charge of renting boats at the north side landing. It was not until about dark that their boat was noticed returned to the shore line with part of the fishing equipment still in it. It was apparent that no landing had been made from the boat at that particular point, and a search was then begun by relatives and sheriff's officers. Sherrif Fred Thomas and a deputy, together with scores of volunteers began intensive dragging operations of the lake shortly after two o'clock in the morning, when state Police Robert Fisher and Carlos Hurley returned from Bay City with drag hooks. The body of the child was found at 2:30 the following afternoon in about 40 feet of water.
The body of the father was not located until 4:10 o'clock. Bruce Hawes located the infant's body and Ed Schumacher found that of the father. Although no one witnessed the tragic drowning, it was the belief of officers that the youngster had caught a fish and in his excitement, fallen overboard, and that the father had lost his life in attempting to rescue his son. Witnesses said that when the young boy's pole was brought to the surface of the water, a 10-inch bullhead was on the hook.
Mr. Freer had been a resident of this city for five years, being employed as a bookkeeper for the National Supply company at the time of his death. he had previously been employed in the office of Attorney M.B. Decker during 1936, and proir to that with the Oil and Gas Association of Michigan. He was born in Saginaw County June 8, 1914, and resided in Remus for several years where he was graduated from high school. he later attended business school in Grand Rapids and Central State Teachers College. Mr. Freer is survived by his wife, Ismerie, and a 16 month daughter, Barbara Ann; a sister Mrs. Clarence Caldwell, of Grand Rapids; his mother Ida Freer of Remus, and father Clarence Freer, of Midland. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Church with the Reverend Charles Mackenzie officiating.
Allan Ralph Freer
Male White
Veteran-No
Residence: Vernon Twp MI
Place of Death: Isabella County, MI
Date of Death: 7/27/1940
Age: 2
Sexton: L S Dart
Funeral Home: G J Stinson
Date of Burial: 7/31/1940
Tombstone: Yes
Source: online Riverside Cemetery Burial Records D-G, pg 351, 1-31-2012
Plot: Section 7, Block 017, Lot 004, Space 2, Spot ID 5562
Note: Little Alan is buried side-by-side with his father at the Riverside Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; the headmarkers read, "Ralph C. Freer" and "Alan R. Freer".
From a newspaper article dated Thursday, August 1, 1940.
"Double Funeral Held Wednesday for Father and Son, Ralph Freer and small Son, Stevenson Lake Drowning Victims"
Double funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon for Ralph Freer, 26, and his three-year-old son Allan R., who lost their lives by drowning in a tragic fishing expedition at Stevenson Lake Saturday night.
The young father and his son were reported to have gone into the lake about 5:40 in the afternoon, Saturday, according to Mrs. William Ducan, who has charge of renting boats at the north side landing. It was not until about dark that their boat was noticed returned to the shore line with part of the fishing equipment still in it. It was apparent that no landing had been made from the boat at that particular point, and a search was then begun by relatives and sheriff's officers. Sherrif Fred Thomas and a deputy, together with scores of volunteers began intensive dragging operations of the lake shortly after two o'clock in the morning, when state Police Robert Fisher and Carlos Hurley returned from Bay City with drag hooks. The body of the child was found at 2:30 the following afternoon in about 40 feet of water.
The body of the father was not located until 4:10 o'clock. Bruce Hawes located the infant's body and Ed Schumacher found that of the father. Although no one witnessed the tragic drowning, it was the belief of officers that the youngster had caught a fish and in his excitement, fallen overboard, and that the father had lost his life in attempting to rescue his son. Witnesses said that when the young boy's pole was brought to the surface of the water, a 10-inch bullhead was on the hook.
Mr. Freer had been a resident of this city for five years, being employed as a bookkeeper for the National Supply company at the time of his death. he had previously been employed in the office of Attorney M.B. Decker during 1936, and proir to that with the Oil and Gas Association of Michigan. He was born in Saginaw County June 8, 1914, and resided in Remus for several years where he was graduated from high school. he later attended business school in Grand Rapids and Central State Teachers College. Mr. Freer is survived by his wife, Ismerie, and a 16 month daughter, Barbara Ann; a sister Mrs. Clarence Caldwell, of Grand Rapids; his mother Ida Freer of Remus, and father Clarence Freer, of Midland. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Church with the Reverend Charles Mackenzie officiating.
Allan Ralph Freer
Male White
Veteran-No
Residence: Vernon Twp MI
Place of Death: Isabella County, MI
Date of Death: 7/27/1940
Age: 2
Sexton: L S Dart
Funeral Home: G J Stinson
Date of Burial: 7/31/1940
Tombstone: Yes
Source: online Riverside Cemetery Burial Records D-G, pg 351, 1-31-2012
Plot: Section 7, Block 017, Lot 004, Space 2, Spot ID 5562
Note: Little Alan is buried side-by-side with his father at the Riverside Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; the headmarkers read, "Ralph C. Freer" and "Alan R. Freer".
"Double Funeral Held Wednesday for Father and Son, Ralph Freer and small Son, Stevenson Lake Drowning Victims"
Double funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon for Ralph Freer, 26, and his three-year-old son Allan R., who lost their lives by drowning in a tragic fishing expedition at Stevenson Lake Saturday night.
The young father and his son were reported to have gone into the lake about 5:40 in the afternoon, Saturday, according to Mrs. William Ducan, who has charge of renting boats at the north side landing. It was not until about dark that their boat was noticed returned to the shore line with part of the fishing equipment still in it. It was apparent that no landing had been made from the boat at that particular point, and a search was then begun by relatives and sheriff's officers. Sherrif Fred Thomas and a deputy, together with scores of volunteers began intensive dragging operations of the lake shortly after two o'clock in the morning, when state Police Robert Fisher and Carlos Hurley returned from Bay City with drag hooks. The body of the child was found at 2:30 the following afternoon in about 40 feet of water.
The body of the father was not located until 4:10 o'clock. Bruce Hawes located the infant's body and Ed Schumacher found that of the father. Although no one witnessed the tragic drowning, it was the belief of officers that the youngster had caught a fish and in his excitement, fallen overboard, and that the father had lost his life in attempting to rescue his son. Witnesses said that when the young boy's pole was brought to the surface of the water, a 10-inch bullhead was on the hook.
Mr. Freer had been a resident of this city for five years, being employed as a bookkeeper for the National Supply company at the time of his death. he had previously been employed in the office of Attorney M.B. Decker during 1936, and proir to that with the Oil and Gas Association of Michigan. He was born in Saginaw County June 8, 1914, and resided in Remus for several years where he was graduated from high school. he later attended business school in Grand Rapids and Central State Teachers College. Mr. Freer is survived by his wife, Ismerie, and a 16 month daughter, Barbara Ann; a sister Mrs. Clarence Caldwell, of Grand Rapids; his mother Ida Freer of Remus, and father Clarence Freer, of Midland. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Church with the Reverend Charles Mackenzie officiating.
Allan Ralph Freer
Male White
Veteran-No
Residence: Vernon Twp MI
Place of Death: Isabella County, MI
Date of Death: 7/27/1940
Age: 2
Sexton: L S Dart
Funeral Home: G J Stinson
Date of Burial: 7/31/1940
Tombstone: Yes
Source: online Riverside Cemetery Burial Records D-G, pg 351, 1-31-2012
Plot: Section 7, Block 017, Lot 004, Space 2, Spot ID 5562
Note: Little Alan is buried side-by-side with his father at the Riverside Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; the headmarkers read, "Ralph C. Freer" and "Alan R. Freer".
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