Gnadt, Leona Anna (child –June 26, 1920-Feb. 22, 1924 –daughter of John Gnadt and Olive Goetz –born at Clarks Mills, Town of Cato –died in gas explosion, along with her sister Frances –died from “burns of skin and fascia” –“The explosion of a gasoline tank at the home of John Gnadt in St. Nazianz at noon on Friday caused the death of two children, very serious injuries to their mother and severe burns to their father. The two little daughters, Leona 5, and Frances 3, were so badly burned that the oldest died two hours after the tragedy and the other six hours later. Mr. Gnadt brought from the basement of his home the gas tank of a gasoline stove which he wanted to take to the old mill, where a tractor school was being held. He was quite a distance from the stove when he shook the can to see if it was empty (which it was, with only a few drops in it). When shaking it Mr. Gnadt noticed a spark on the valve and he immediately tried to throw the can into the next room where nobody was, but it exploded before he got it out of his hand. A sheet of flame enveloped the room, and the two little girls who were near their father, where horribly burned and suffered terrible agony until death came.” –from newspaper article) –buried at St. Gregory Catholic Cemetery in St. Nazianz, Town of Eaton [buried in Section 3, Row 4, Lot 18 –stone] [death record Manitowoc 20-548]
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This is the second part of the story on this accident, first part is in Frances bio)

Gnadt is 35 years of age, and his wife 33. They had seven children. The five living range in age from a year and a half to 12 years.

The mother is still in ignorance of the fact that her two children are dead. She believes they are suffering from burns and confined in a bed in another room in the home.
The explosion of the gasoline can wrecked the stove and the interior of the kitchen. Had the other children been in the kitchen at the time of the blast they would probably have met with the same fate as Leona and Frances, the neighbors assert.

Mr. Gnadt is employed in the Miller hardware store at St. Nazianz and his home is in the village.

The double funeral of the two little girls, victims of the explosion, was held on Monday from St. Gregory's church and was largely attended. The bodies were laid to rest in one grave. Eight little girls were pallbearers and the Guardian Angel Banner accompanied the funeral from the house. Rev. Deibele officiated, while the big choir of St. Gregory's sang the High Mass.

Tri-County Record - February 28, 1924