Notes for Jacob Joseph SCHAFF

Notes for Jacob Joseph SCHAFF

SOURCE OF INFORMATION: Wedding announcement, Newspaper Obit
RECORDS: Death
Think one of Joe wives 1st name was Janet.
NEWSPAPER OBIT: FORMER STRUGIS MAN LOSES LIFE IN MOWER-CAR ACCIDENT.

Joe Schaff, a former resident of Sturgis and vicinity, was killed on Wednesday night of last week in a mower-car accident near his home in Belle Fourche, according to the Belle Fourche News. The accident occurred south of the city limit on highway 85, where Schaff was returning to Belle Fourche after cutting grass along the highway right-of-way, he was apparently killed instantly, according to Sheriff Elmer Connor. The mowing machine was demolished and one of the horses killed. The right side of the O'Donnell car, driven by Robert O'Donnell, Belle Fourche high school student, was badly damaged, but neither the driver nor any of the three passengers in the car were injured. A coroner's inquest decided that Schaff met death due to his negligence while traveling on the highway after dark without lights and with a horse drawn vehicle. Furneral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Frost & Son funeral home, and were widely attended by friends and neighbors.

Joe Schaff was born Augus 23, 1900, at Sturgis, and spent a large portion of his life in this vicinity. He is survived by his wife and a son and daughter, Gary and Kay, Belle Fourche; a son, Charles, who is attending college at Okmulgee, Okla.; another son, Leslie, lives in the state of Washington, also a grandson and granddaughter at Okmulgee. Other survivors are a brother John, Bear Butte; a sister, Mrs. Amelia Wetz, Vale; a sister, Mrs. Mary Hart, Pacific Grove, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Larry Reinartz, Sheboygan. Wis.; a brother, Albert, Chicago, and a number of nephews and nieces. NEWSPAPER OBIT: Rapid City Journal, dated 30 Jun 1949: DRIVER BLINDED BY LIGHTS. Belle Fourche, June 30 Joseph Schaff, 48 was killed about 8:30 p.m. last night when an auto driven by Robert O'Donnell, Belle Fourche high school student, crashed into the rear of Schaff's horse drawn mower on highway 85. The accident occurred just south of the Belle Fourche city limits. O'Donnell said he was blinded by the headlights of an oncoming car, and did not see the mower in time to avoid hitting Schaff, who was thrown about 30 feet from the machine. Elmer Connor, Butte county sheriff reported O'Donnell's car skided 100 feet before striking the mowing machine. Schaff lived only a few momonets after the mishap. He incurred a severed leg and a badly broken body according to the coroner. One of the horses was killed, and the mower was crushed.

The mower was apperently traveling without lights. Neither O'Donnell nor the three passangers in the car was injured. O'Donnell is the son of W. J. O'Donnell. An Inquest in Schaffs death may be held according to J. H. Krenson coroner. Schaff is survived by his wife and two children. His body is at the Fred and Son Funeral home pending funeral arrangements.

NEWSPAPER FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMEMT: Sturgis Tribune dated July 7, 1949.

SERVICES HELD FOR JOE SCHAFF SATURDAY

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the Frost and Son Funeral home with Rev. L. A. Johnson officiating for Joe Schaff, 49, who was killed in an accident on highway 85 Wednesday night, June 29. Burial was in the Pineslope cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Ralph Wattier, Frank Mitchell, Ed Allen, Charles Rada, W.L. Smity, and Gene Countryman. Joseph Jacob Schaff was born August 23, 1900, at Sturgis, and had lived in Belle Fourche for the past ten years. He had been working for W.J. O'Donnell for the past few months, but had quit that position and was making preparations to go on a rodeo circuit with his daughter, Kay, a trick rider, within the next few days. Surviving are Mrs. Schaff, daughter Kay, a son Gary, all in Belle Fourche; a son Charles in Arkansas, and another son Leslie in Washington. Also he left three sisters, Mrs. Amelia Wetz, Vale, Mrs. Margaret Rhinartz, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Mrs. Mary Hart, Pacific Grove, California, and two brothers, John at Bear Butte and Albert in Chicago.