FRANK WATRUBA
Coastguardsmen Recover Body of Frank Watruba
Coast Guard dragging operations Thursday afternoon recovered the body of a city
truck driver who drowned when his vehicle rolled into freezing water at the foot
of Quay Street.
Frank Watruba, 58, of 1216 Arlington Ave., died almost instantly when the truck
skidded over a snow covered barrier next to the car ferry slip.
Witnesses said Watruba apparently froze at the wheel as the ton and a half truck,
loaded with snow, spun its tires up over the guardrail as it backed toward the
edge.
The truck teetered on the barrier for a sickening moment, then plunged backwards
into about 30 feet of freezing water.
(paragraphs describing bringing the truck out of the water not transcribed)
Body is Recovered
On the third pass, the Coastguardsmen hooked a sleeve of Watrub's clothing, and his
body was recovered. It had been in the water about two and a half hours.
Crowds gathered at the scene almost as soon as the accident happened. A carferry,
the 410-foot SS Badger, just about to leave its slip a few feet away, was asked to
delay departure for fear its churning wake might toss the wrecked truck further into
the basin.
Funeral Saturday
The wheels slid up and over the barrier, caught for a moment, and then carried the
truck backwards into the water.
Klusmeyer said Watruba had the driver's door open, but didn't jump.
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, Manitowoc county coroner, said Watruba's death was caused by
drowning.
Funeral services for Watruba will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Pfeffer
Funeral Home and at 9 a.m. at Holy Innocents Catholic Church. The Rev. E.A. Radey
will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
He was born in Maribel in 1895 and in 1918 married Miss Anna Jerabek. He operated a
farm near Maribel for several years and moved to Manitowoc in 1930. He was employed
as a truck driver by the Manitowoc Street department since 1939. He was a member of
the Holy Name Society.
Surviving are his wife, a daguther, Virginette, at home; son, Victor, of Manitowoc;
brother, Joseph, of Manitowoc.
Friends may call at the funeral home where the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m.
Friday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Friday, January 29, 1954 P.15
*********
[d. 01-28-1954/age 58 yrs.]
Coastguardsmen Recover Body of Frank Watruba
Coast Guard dragging operations Thursday afternoon recovered the body of a city
truck driver who drowned when his vehicle rolled into freezing water at the foot
of Quay Street.
Frank Watruba, 58, of 1216 Arlington Ave., died almost instantly when the truck
skidded over a snow covered barrier next to the car ferry slip.
Witnesses said Watruba apparently froze at the wheel as the ton and a half truck,
loaded with snow, spun its tires up over the guardrail as it backed toward the
edge.
The truck teetered on the barrier for a sickening moment, then plunged backwards
into about 30 feet of freezing water.
(paragraphs describing bringing the truck out of the water not transcribed)
Body is Recovered
On the third pass, the Coastguardsmen hooked a sleeve of Watrub's clothing, and his
body was recovered. It had been in the water about two and a half hours.
Crowds gathered at the scene almost as soon as the accident happened. A carferry,
the 410-foot SS Badger, just about to leave its slip a few feet away, was asked to
delay departure for fear its churning wake might toss the wrecked truck further into
the basin.
Funeral Saturday
The wheels slid up and over the barrier, caught for a moment, and then carried the
truck backwards into the water.
Klusmeyer said Watruba had the driver's door open, but didn't jump.
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, Manitowoc county coroner, said Watruba's death was caused by
drowning.
Funeral services for Watruba will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Pfeffer
Funeral Home and at 9 a.m. at Holy Innocents Catholic Church. The Rev. E.A. Radey
will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
He was born in Maribel in 1895 and in 1918 married Miss Anna Jerabek. He operated a
farm near Maribel for several years and moved to Manitowoc in 1930. He was employed
as a truck driver by the Manitowoc Street department since 1939. He was a member of
the Holy Name Society.
Surviving are his wife, a daguther, Virginette, at home; son, Victor, of Manitowoc;
brother, Joseph, of Manitowoc.
Friends may call at the funeral home where the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m.
Friday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Friday, January 29, 1954 P.15
*********
[d. 01-28-1954/age 58 yrs.]
FRANK WATRUBA
Coastguardsmen Recover Body of Frank Watruba
Coast Guard dragging operations Thursday afternoon recovered the body of a city
truck driver who drowned when his vehicle rolled into freezing water at the foot
of Quay Street.
Frank Watruba, 58, of 1216 Arlington Ave., died almost instantly when the truck
skidded over a snow covered barrier next to the car ferry slip.
Witnesses said Watruba apparently froze at the wheel as the ton and a half truck,
loaded with snow, spun its tires up over the guardrail as it backed toward the
edge.
The truck teetered on the barrier for a sickening moment, then plunged backwards
into about 30 feet of freezing water.
(paragraphs describing bringing the truck out of the water not transcribed)
Body is Recovered
On the third pass, the Coastguardsmen hooked a sleeve of Watrub's clothing, and his
body was recovered. It had been in the water about two and a half hours.
Crowds gathered at the scene almost as soon as the accident happened. A carferry,
the 410-foot SS Badger, just about to leave its slip a few feet away, was asked to
delay departure for fear its churning wake might toss the wrecked truck further into
the basin.
Funeral Saturday
The wheels slid up and over the barrier, caught for a moment, and then carried the
truck backwards into the water.
Klusmeyer said Watruba had the driver's door open, but didn't jump.
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, Manitowoc county coroner, said Watruba's death was caused by
drowning.
Funeral services for Watruba will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Pfeffer
Funeral Home and at 9 a.m. at Holy Innocents Catholic Church. The Rev. E.A. Radey
will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
He was born in Maribel in 1895 and in 1918 married Miss Anna Jerabek. He operated a
farm near Maribel for several years and moved to Manitowoc in 1930. He was employed
as a truck driver by the Manitowoc Street department since 1939. He was a member of
the Holy Name Society.
Surviving are his wife, a daguther, Virginette, at home; son, Victor, of Manitowoc;
brother, Joseph, of Manitowoc.
Friends may call at the funeral home where the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m.
Friday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Friday, January 29, 1954 P.15
*********
[d. 01-28-1954/age 58 yrs.]
Coastguardsmen Recover Body of Frank Watruba
Coast Guard dragging operations Thursday afternoon recovered the body of a city
truck driver who drowned when his vehicle rolled into freezing water at the foot
of Quay Street.
Frank Watruba, 58, of 1216 Arlington Ave., died almost instantly when the truck
skidded over a snow covered barrier next to the car ferry slip.
Witnesses said Watruba apparently froze at the wheel as the ton and a half truck,
loaded with snow, spun its tires up over the guardrail as it backed toward the
edge.
The truck teetered on the barrier for a sickening moment, then plunged backwards
into about 30 feet of freezing water.
(paragraphs describing bringing the truck out of the water not transcribed)
Body is Recovered
On the third pass, the Coastguardsmen hooked a sleeve of Watrub's clothing, and his
body was recovered. It had been in the water about two and a half hours.
Crowds gathered at the scene almost as soon as the accident happened. A carferry,
the 410-foot SS Badger, just about to leave its slip a few feet away, was asked to
delay departure for fear its churning wake might toss the wrecked truck further into
the basin.
Funeral Saturday
The wheels slid up and over the barrier, caught for a moment, and then carried the
truck backwards into the water.
Klusmeyer said Watruba had the driver's door open, but didn't jump.
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, Manitowoc county coroner, said Watruba's death was caused by
drowning.
Funeral services for Watruba will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Pfeffer
Funeral Home and at 9 a.m. at Holy Innocents Catholic Church. The Rev. E.A. Radey
will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
He was born in Maribel in 1895 and in 1918 married Miss Anna Jerabek. He operated a
farm near Maribel for several years and moved to Manitowoc in 1930. He was employed
as a truck driver by the Manitowoc Street department since 1939. He was a member of
the Holy Name Society.
Surviving are his wife, a daguther, Virginette, at home; son, Victor, of Manitowoc;
brother, Joseph, of Manitowoc.
Friends may call at the funeral home where the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m.
Friday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Friday, January 29, 1954 P.15
*********
[d. 01-28-1954/age 58 yrs.]
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