74 years ago today, Rev. J.P. Klausler and his wife were killed in a car accident. He served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran for 33 years before the accident, and was also District President for many years.
IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR REV. AND MRS. KLAUSLER
Tragic Auto Accident Kills Two People, Injuring Two
PASTOR of IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 1908 - 1941 and PRESIDENT of the NORTH DAKOTA - MONTANA DISTRICT of the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The group had left Hankinson to inspect interior decorations of a Wheaton , MN., Lutheran Church early in the afternoon. As they neared the west turn to New Effington on No. 81 where they intended to leave the thoroughfare, the car crashed head-on with a large over-cab truck driven by DeFord Stetzier, of Menaghn, who was only slightly bruised.
The crash killed Rev. and Mrs. Klausler instantly, and Mrs. Kretchman was rendered unconscious. Mrs. Wipperman, who is a registered nurse, recognized the full seriousness of the tragedy, and although injured, walked a mile to telephone Hankinson relatives.
In the meantime, Mrs. Clarence Lien drove up with a car and brought the two wounded women to Hankinson. Mrs. Kretchman's condition was so critical that she was taken to the Breckenridge Hospital for treatment. Mrs. Wipperman entered the Tiegs Hospital where she is yet receiving treatment.
The corner where the accident occurred is a dangerous one, a rise in the grade at the turn preventing full vision essential on modern highway. Citizens who went to the scene of the accident report that Rev. Klausler had set his brakes for many feet in an attempt to avert the crash, but it was impossible.
The accident is the most serious ever to involve Hankinson people, and the prominence of all parties has cast a pall of sadness over our community which will remain long in the memory of relatives and innumerable friends.
Rev. Klausler's sincere devotion to his church and family, and his able supervision of the North Dakota-Montana Synod and his conscientious endeavors as a true Christian neighbor to our people leaves a void that time and love can only partially erase.
Final funeral services were held for the Rev. and Mrs. J. P. Klausler from Immanuel Lutheran Church, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30. A service in the home for the immediate members of the family and relatives was held at 2 o'clock. The bodies lay in state before the altar of the church from Sunday morning until Tuesday noon.
At the funeral services for the late Rev. and Mrs. J. P. Klausler, two long time friends preached the sermons. The Rev. E. G. Nachtsheim, of Minneapolis, preached the first sermon. Basing his sermon on Psalm 46, 11, the Rev. Nachtsheim declared that the hand of God was visibly present in the tragic accident. He counseled the mourners to retain an abiding trust in God. In the second sermon, the Rev. A. H. Grumm, of Fargo, Chairman of the Mission Board of the North Dakota-Montana District, used as his text Psalm 73, 23-26. The Rev. Grumm showed how the deceased couple had always been an example of devout Christian faith and urged that everyone use them as an example in their personal life.
In addition to the two sermons, the Rev. G. Christian Barth, of Cincinnati, OH., third Vice-President of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, delivered a short address as the representative of the Synod and its President, the Rev. Dr. J. W. Bahnken. Vice-President Earth called attention to the fact that the late Pastor Klausler was nationally known as an efficient administrator in church affairs. He stated that the entire Lutheran Church in America mourned Pastor Klausler's loss.
The Rev. F. J. Graeber, Aberdeen, SD., representing the South Dakota District of the Lutheran Church and its President, pointed out the invaluable services Pastor Klausler had rendered as Chairman at Pastoral Conferences. The Rev. A. Jordan, now the new President of the North Dakota-Montana District, Kalispell, MT., spoke words of comfort to the congregation, members of the family and the community.
At the service in the home the Rev. J. H. Rengstorf, of Great Bend, officiated. In the church, the Rev. W. Cordts, of Belford, served as liturgist. At the grave, the Rev. H. Schumacher, of Tyler, read the words of committal.
The pallbearers for the Rev. and Mrs. Klausler were the trustees and elders of the church as well as remaining officers of the church. They were Theodore Bladow, Fred Pankow, William J. Medenwaldt, Gust Muehler, Robert Stein, Robert Sedler, Ervin Prochnow, Robert Vedder, Lawrence Jentz and Paul Ohm.
Honorary pallbearers were the visiting clergymen, M. S. Aker representing Governor John Moses, Paul Kinn representing the City of Hankinson, and Gust Schultz, Ernest Steinwehr, and Carl Jasmer, Sr.
