Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Diller, Earl 1909
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Lyons Herald, 30 Sep & Oct 7 1909

Killed at Pewamo

Young Man Crushed Between Cars.

Earl Diller, the 17 years-old son of Margaret Diller of Pewamo, met his death 
Friday afternoon by being crushed between Grand Trunk cars.

A poultry car stood on the side track and was separated from another freight by 
a few feet.  Mr. Diller stepped in between the cars and was looking into the 
end of the poultry car, all unconscious of the danger from behind, when the 
engine struck the other freight car, sending it forward and catching the boy 
between the bumpers and crushing his young life out almost instantly.

Sheriff Cilley, Prosecuting Attorney Sheldon and Coroner Clark came to the 
scene at once and impaneled a coroner’s jury for the purpose of investigating 
the facts connected with the killing.  After viewing the body an adjournment 
was taken for one week.

----

A Saddened Home.

Accidental Killing of Earl Diller At Pewamo.

The residents of Pewamo were inexpressibly shocked and grieved by the 
accidental death of Earl Diller last week Friday.  It seems that he had stopped 
to look at a partially filled poultry car that was being loaded preparatory to 
shipment, and had walked around to the west end of the car and was leaning over 
the bumper looking in at the end door, when he was struck by a shunted car, the 
noise of the poultry drowning its approach.  Bystanders, who had witnessed the 
accident, hurriedly picked him up and tenderly laid him on some boards near by, 
but death had been almost instantaneous, and his little eyes were closed for 
all time to earthly things by the time medical aid could be summoned.

Sympathizing friends broke the sad news to the remaining members of the family, 
consisting of a widowed mother, brother and sister, and their grief was pitiful 
to witness.  Supported by a Sister of St. Joseph’s Church, the mother was 
brought to gaze upon the face of her dead son, who had left her side but a few 
moments before so full of life and joy, and the spectacle was one that made the 
strongest turn away in tears.

The funeral was held Monday from St. Joseph’s Church, Rev. Fr. Withiff 
officiating.  The little white casket was covered by a profusion of flowers, 
among them being beautiful floral pieces from his former teacher Mrs. Geo. W. 
Young and classmates and the local lodge L.O.T.M., of which his mother is a 
member.

In his sermon Father Withiff spoke very feelingly of the young life that had so 
suddenly been summoned and that he as his spiritual adviser was confident his 
soul had gone straight to that land of perpetual happiness and sunshine.  The 
pall bearers were Carl Brunn, Cecil Millard, John Wirtz, Jake Thuma, John Fox 
and Alexander Simmon, all boyhood friends.  The interment was in St. Joseph 
cemetery on a hill overlooking Stony creek, along whose green and mossy banks 
he had so often played.

Earl Diller was born at Fowler February 1, 1894, and died September 24, 1909, 
aged 15 years, 7 months and 23 days.  He leaves a mother, a brother George and 
sister Mary and many other relatives and friends to mourn his untimely death.

His death was a transposition of the beautiful here to the beautiful of that 
above, and though almost before the flower of his had begun to unfold, the stem 
of life was broken.  He lived to give an example of Christian life that will be 
an aid and comfort to those who must tarry longer and grieve his loss.


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