HENRY BROEKER

HENRY BROEKER RUN DOWN BY CAR, KILLED
STRUCK BY AUTOMOBILE ON HIGHWAY 17 NEAR PAULY FARM,
LOCAL MAN INSTANTLY MEETS DEATH
Driver of Car Was Gordon Bently Who Did Not See Broeker On Roadway
Because of the Storm
Henry Broeker, 53, was almost instantly killed Saturday night shortly before
9 o'clock when he was struck down by an automobile on Highway 17 near the
Pauly farm.
The car, a seven passenger Paige, was driven by Gordon Bentley(sic) and was
occupied by the Bentley family, including Bentley's father and mother, his
twin brother and four other children of the family. Bentley stopped within a
few feet after the accident, picked up Broeker and brought him to the hospital
but the man was dead when the hospital was reached.
An inquest was called this morning at 8:30 and the jury, George Clark, Louis
Geisler, John Rhode, Walter J. Golding, Hugo C. Wellhoefer and Joseph Weber,
viewed the body at the Pfeffer chapel. Coroner Kemper set the hearing for
Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
Returning From Two Rivers
The Bentley family had owned the car for only a short time and Gordon it is
said was a new driver. The family was returning from a trip to Two Rivers and
according to the report to the authorities, was traveling along at a very
moderate rate of speed, from eighteen to twenty miles an hour. They had turned
west on the Pauly farm and passed the private road to the Pauly home when the
machine struck Broeker who was enroute to his home. Bentley stopped the machine
and a man was found on the concrete about ten feet to the rear of the car, which
apparently had gone over the man without the wheels striking him. He was picked
up, placed in the tonnean of the car and rushed to the city, a stop being made
at 712 Buffalo street to let out members of the family at the home. The father
made an appeal for assistance at the barber shop and Gordon Pittsley drove the
car to the hospital when it was found young Bentley was so unstrung he could
not drive.
Arrived at the hospital Pittsley found the injured man was dead and the coroner
was called and district attorney notified. The body was removed to the Pfeffer
undertaking parlors.
Was Returning From Work
Broeker had been down to a piece of land which he was given permission, to use
to open some ditches. The piece had been sown to flax during the afternoon and
Broeker was afraid the rain might do some damage as the land was low. He had
completed his tasks there and had regained the highway to return to his home,
just north of the Pauly place, when he was run down. Bentley said he did not
see Broeker until too late, in fact did not see hime until he struck him,
because of the storm. Broeker was struck inside of the right fender, and the
impact smashed the headlight. The shovel, which he carried denting the radiator.
The body dropped to the pavement and the head was badly bruised about the right
temple by contact with the roadway. No bones were broken and death was probably
due to concussion of the brain. There were many bruises on the arms and legs.
Fifty-Three Years of Age
Mr. Broeker was born here August 6, 1872 and was fifty-three years old. He was
married about twenty-seven years ago to Sophie Holtz and for the last fifteen
years had made his home on a farm on the Two Rivers road near the spot where he
met his death. Surviving are the widow and three children. Mrs. Hertig, Linda
and Walter, all at home. His mother, Mrs. John Broeker, a sister, Mrs. Henry
Ladwig and a brother Fred also survive. Miss Linda is to be married to Elwin
Buss of this city on June 30, a license for the event having been issued.
Funeral Tomorrow
The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon with services at the German Evang-
elical Lutheran church at 3 o'clock, the Rev. Karl Machmiller officiating.
Burial will be at Evergreen
Manitowoc Herald News, Monday, June 14, 1926 p.2