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William Shaffer

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William Shaffer

Birth	:	1903 Nebraska, USA
Death	:	1927 Creighton, Knox County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Saint Ludgers Catholic Cemetery, Creighton, Knox County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.4757000, -97.9092000
Description	:	Tragedy Takes Two Lives for Toll Young Father and Child Perish from Burns Received in Fire Sunday. Consternation and amazement ran rampant Sunday, when emergency aid was summoned for the relief of William Shaffer and his daughter, Shirley May, who were fatally burned in a kerosene explosion at the J.N. Schneider farm, one mile east of Winnetoon. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer with the year and a half old daughter and Mr. Shaffer's brother, Leo, returned from church service in Creighton to the farm. The child was placed on a bed, the brother had gone upstairs. Mr. Shaffer started to kindle the fire in... Read More	Tragedy Takes Two Lives for Toll Young Father and Child Perish from Burns Received in Fire Sunday. Consternation and amazement ran rampant Sunday, when emergency aid was summoned for the relief of William Shaffer and his daughter, Shirley May, who were fatally burned in a kerosene explosion at the J.N. Schneider farm, one mile east of Winnetoon. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer with the year and a half old daughter and Mr. Shaffer's brother, Leo, returned from church service in Creighton to the farm. The child was placed on a bed, the brother had gone upstairs. Mr. Shaffer started to kindle the fire in the living room with a five gallon kerosene can, which contained about 4 gallons. Mrs. Shaffer had gone to the kitchen to bring a small open can used for the purpose. At this time an explosion occurred, whereupon, Mr. Shaffer seized the infant and attempted to escape to another room. Being unable to open the door, he dashed for a window and had succeeded in demolishing it, but fell inside with the infant clasped in his embrace. J.N. Schneider drove up to the house at the exact moment to find the frantic mother's appeal from the front of the building and the brother's exit from an upstairs window. The burned father and child were withdrawn through the open window, the enveloping flames were extinguished with yard rags and snow and the burned pair hurriedly taken to Dr. Schwedhelm's office, the brother driving. Neighbors notified the doctor to be in readiness and the Creighton fire department was summoned. At the doctor's office, Drs. Schwedhelm, Britt and Zimmerer of Lincoln, a hotel guest, assisted by Mrs. Art Glazer and Mrs. J.N. Schneider, nurses, worked heroically in giving first relief. Thereafter, the injured were removed to the Joseph Bloom residence and later a conference was held and as a result both were immediately taken to the Lutheran hospital at Norfolk, where both died after midnight and within a brief time of each other. William Shaffer was born near Chadron, Dawes County, Nebraska and at two years of age moved with his parents to the farm home near Creighton. Had William lived until November 26, he would have been 24 years of age. He was born November 26, 1903. He was married to Grace Richling at Yankton, S.D. on Aug. 2, 1925 and to the family, the daughter, Shirley May, was born, April 26, 1926. Surviving relatives include the widow, the parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Shaffer, residing two miles west of Creighton, three brothers, George of Lyons, Nebr.; Herman and Leo at home; two sisters, Mrs. Joe Kocina of Creighton and Adeline at home. A double funeral was held Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock from St. Ludger church, the Rector, Father Windolph, celebrating the requiem high mass, delivering a most inspirational and effectual ceremony. The church edifice was crowded with an overflow number of friends of the families, who desired to thereby express in a timely manner their friendship and respect for their esteemed friends. Burial was made for both bodies in one grave in St. Ludger cemetery. Expressions of sincere sympathy are tendered by the great many friends to those who mourn. These tragic deaths, a holocaust brings to an apparently untimely end, a sturdy trustworthy young father's life, whose paternal instinct was to preserve the life of his child and who failed in the attempt, both lives being lost as a result. It would seem that no mortal man could tell or depict a greater eulogy to characterize in words a greater devotion than was attempted in the sacrifice made by Bill Shaffer to save his child, rather than that instinctive self preservation with which nature has endowed the greater number of us. His own tragic action has written indelibly in the minds of his acquaintances as well as to the world at large his true character--devotion. ...The Creighton News 24 Nov 1927

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Shaffer's memorial?
William Shaffer's memorial is located at: Saint Ludgers Catholic Cemetery, Creighton, Knox County, USA.
When did William Shaffer death?
William Shaffer death on 1927 in Creighton, Knox County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Shaffer's memorial?
Latitude: 42.4757000
Longitude: -97.9092000

Family Members:

Parent

George Shaffer

(1871 - 1952)

Rose Kennan Shaffer

(1880 - 1956)

Siblings

George F Schaefer

(1899 - 1976)

Mary M Shaffer Kocina

(1901 - 1996)

Herman A Schaefer

(1906 - 1950)

Adeline Shaffer Ferris

(1909 - 1993)

Leo H. Shaffer

(1913 - 1966)

Children

Shirley May Shaffer

(1925 - 1927)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Ludgers Catholic Cemetery
Creighton, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4757000, -97.9092000

2. Rose Hill Cemetery
Creighton, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4756500, -97.9087500

3. Greenwood Cemetery
Creighton, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4747009, -97.9096985

4. Christ Lutheran Cemetery
Bazile Mills, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5106800, -97.9140100

5. Cedar Hill Cemetery
Bazile Mills, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5107994, -97.8972015

6. Winnetoon Cemetery
Winnetoon, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5097198, -97.9550018

7. Olcott Cemetery
Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4668999, -98.0335999

8. Kemma Cemetery
Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5438995, -97.8103027

9. Millerboro Cemetery
Antelope County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4216995, -98.0338974

10. Gnewuch Gravesite
Center, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5973000, -97.8267800

11. Saint Pauls Catholic Church Cemetery
Plainview, Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3678700, -97.7959700

12. Brunswick Cemetery
Brunswick, Antelope County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3424988, -97.9518967

13. Pleasant View Cemetery
Plainview, Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3665310, -97.7959700

14. Morrillville Cemetery
Bloomfield, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5725000, -97.7541000

15. Eden Valley Cemetery
Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4241982, -97.7177963

16. Riverside Cemetery
Verdigre, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6011009, -98.0286026

17. Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery
Plainview, Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3512160, -97.7877140

18. Danish Cemetery
Brunswick, Antelope County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3219800, -97.9125700

19. Saint Wenceslaus Cemetery
Verdigre, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6039009, -98.0428009

20. Morsett Cemetery
Royal, Antelope County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4349800, -98.1416300

21. Golgotha Lutheran Cemetery
Wausa, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4732600, -97.6609400

22. Hillcrest Cemetery
Verdigre, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6356010, -98.0378036

23. Zion Cemetery
Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3293991, -97.7371979

24. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Verdigre, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5678900, -98.1491800