Charles William Gettle , prominent Rock Falls citizen and former city treasurer, passed away at 11:40 o'clock Wednesday morning in the Sterling public hospital following an emergency operation performed Tuesday afternoon. News of his death is a sudden shock to this community where Mr. Gettle had been an esteemed resident for a number of years. The body was removed from the hospital to the Melvin funeral home, where an inquest is to be conducted by Coroner C. M. Frye at 4:30 o'clock. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed. About 10 days ago Mr. Gettle received injuries in an auto accident which occurred in the subway at the north end of First Avenue bridge. He did not suffer any ill effects from the injuries until Monday morning when his condition became serious. Tuesday Mr. Gettle was rushed to the Sterling public hospital and submitted to an emergency operation at one p.m. Charles W. Gettle was born April 25, 1887, being 43 years old at the time of his death. For over 20 years he had been employed by the International Harvester Co., in Rock Falls, his position being that of storekeeper. Mr. Gettle served as city treasurer in Rock Falls and was a member of the Rock Falls grade-school board of education. The surviving members of the family besides the sorrowing widow, Louise Martha Pfulb Gettle, are two daughters, Sue and Lola, students in the Rock Falls High and Merrill Junior High schools. He is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Gettle of Rock Falls; three brothers, Paul of Rock Falls, and Earl and Aaron in the west; and one sister, Mrs. David (Evelyn) Little of Rock Falls.

From the Sterling Daily Gazette,
Nov. 26, 1930
Submitted by Suanne Nesland,
granddaughter and daughter of Lola Gettle Gagin

Funeral: The funeral of Charles W. Gettle will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at his home, 600 Third Ave. , Rock Falls. Rev. H.K. Hostetter will officiate. He will be assisted by Rev. H.E. Schiffer of the Rock Falls Christian CHurch and Rev. A.W. Mohns of the Rock Falls Methodist Church. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Sterling Gazette
28 Nov 1930 Pg 12 C2
Contributed by Sue Nesland