20 –41-42

lornajarrettblanchard April 8, 1973

–42 UPI. “Storm Takes Toll in Midwest, Moves to New England States.” Daily Herald, Provo, UT, 4-11-1973, 1.
–41 Blanchard tally from State breakouts.
–31 Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Sun Melts Our Hearts…a Lot of Snow.” 4-11-1973, 1.

Summary of State Breakouts and Causes of Death:

Illinois 2 Exposure 3
Iowa 16-17 Heart attacks shoveling/removing snow 24
Minnesota 3 Vehicular accidents (1 snowmobile death) 14
Wisconsin 20 Delay of emergency med. help; road conditions 1

Total 41-42

Breakout of Fatalities by State, Locality and Cause of Death

Illinois 2
–2 Storm Data, Vol. 15, No. 4, April 1973
–1 Freeport, Apr 10. Heart attack shoveling snow at home; Godfrey Ingold, 75.
–1 Pecatonica, Apr 9. Heart attack shoveling snow that had stalled his truck; Faye L. Burkholder, 62.

Iowa 16
–17 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
–16 Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA. “Melting snow swells rivers.” 4-11-1973, p. 2.
–16 Des Moines Register, IA. “Move to Clear Small Roads.” 4-12-1973, p. 3.
–14 Des Moines Register, IA. “14 Iowans Dead in Wake of Paralyzing Blizzard.” 4-11-1973, 1.
–13 AP. “Iowa’s Spring Storm Takes Lives of 13.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 4-11-1973, 2C.
Breakout of Iowa fatalities by locality.
— 1 Ankeny. Heart attack. Myron McNeal, 41.
— 1 Cedar Falls. Heart attack. Vernon Moore, 74.
— 1 Charles City area, Apr 12. Car hits snowdrift, skids into path of car; Harvey W. Koehler, 59.
— 7 Des Moines area. Heart attacks shoveling snow or walking to safety from stalled vehicles.
–1 Augustine Bliquez, 62. AP. “Iowa’s…Storm Takes…13.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 4-11-1973, 2C.
–1 Wesley Connett, 57. AP. “Iowa’s…Storm Takes…13.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 4-11-1973, 2C.
–1 Harley Hoyt, 49. AP. “Iowa’s…Storm Takes…13.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 4-11-1973, 2C.
–1 Clifford LaFollette, 48, rural Indianola.
–1 Donald Moorehead, 58. AP. “Iowa’s…Storm Takes…13.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 4-11-1973, 2C.
–1 Harry Strasser, 77. AP. “Iowa’s…Storm Takes…13.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 4-11-1973, 2C.
–1 Frank E. Taube, 65. Heart attack operating snow-blower at home.
— 1 Forest City. Seven-car crash; snowy road and conditions; Marlin Albertson, 36, of Wesley.
— 1 Grafton, Apr 12. Snowmobile accident: Mrs. Viola M. Walk, 50; noted as 16th fatality.
— 1 Harvey, Apr 9. Apparent exposure; Jake Webb, 80, in snowed-in outbuilding at home.
— 1 Oelwein. Heart attack. Sarah Gilson, 61.
— 1 Pella area, IA-163 east. Exposure after vehicle stalled in deep snow; Stanley Johnston, 50.
— 1 Storm Lake. Heart attack. Harold Hustedt, 64.
— 1 Waukon area. Heart attack; snow-drifted roads prevented timely medical help; John Seibert, 54.

Minnesota 3
–3 Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Sun Melts Our Hearts…a Lot of Snow.” 4-11-1973, 1
–2 Southeast MN, Apr 8-9. Near blizzard, two traffic pileups. Storm Data, 15/4, Apr 1973, p7.
–1 Southeast MN, Apr 8-9. Heart attack shoveling snow to free his truck. Storm Data, Apr. 7.

Wisconsin 20
–20 Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Sun Melts Our Hearts…Snow.” 4-11-1973, 1.
–20 Blanchard tally of fatalities from locality breakouts below.
Breakout of fatalities by locality:
— 3 Beaver Dam, Hwy. 151, Dodge County, Apr 8. Car goes out of control on icy road.
— 9 Madison area. WI State Journal, Madison. “Sun Melts Our Hearts…Snow.” 4-11-1973, 1.
–1 Heart attack shoveling snow; John Lounsbury, 53, Schroeder Rd.
–1 Heart attack shoveling snow; Mrs. Elmer Sperloen, 70, Stoughton.
–1 Heart attack just after operating a snowplow; Ernest Wersland, 58, Oregon.
— 1 Portage. Exposure; found Apr 10 in snowbank 6M from home; Edward M. Schneider, 81.
— 6 Prairie Du Chien, Apr 8. Three-car accident, “snow-glazed U.S. 18…”
–2 Doris Hennings, 64, and husband Floyd Hennings, 59, of Maynard, IA.
–2 Agnes McBride and husband Joseph W. McBride, 64, Oelwein, IA.
–1 Gary D. Ruiz, 32, Bloomington, MN.
–1 Penney Schulka, 16, Prairie du Chien.
— 1 Watertown. Heart attack shoveling snow; Herbert W. Birkholz, 73.

Causes of Death

3 Exposure
–1 IA, Harvey, Apr 9. Apparent exposure; Jake Webb, 80, in snowed-in outbuilding at home.
–1 IA, Pella area, IA-163 east. Exposure after vehicle stalled in deep snow; Stanley Johnston, 50.
–1 WI, Portage. Exposure; found Apr 10 in snowbank 6M from home; Edward M. Schneider, 81.

24 Heart attacks shoveling or removing snow
–1 IL, Freeport, Apr 10. Heart attack shoveling snow at home; Godfrey Ingold, 75.
–1 IL, Pecatonica, Apr 9. Heart attack shoveling snow that had stalled his truck; Faye L. Burkholder, 62.
–1 IA, Ankeny. Heart attack. Myron McNeal, 41.
–1 IA, Cedar Falls. Heart attack. Vernon Moore, 74.
–7 IA, Des Moines area.
–1 IA, Oelwein. Heart attack. Sarah Gilson, 61.
–1 IA, Storm Lake. Heart attack. Harold Hustedt, 64.
–1 MN, southeast, Apr 8-9. Heart attack shoveling snow to free his truck.
–9 WI, Madison area. (One was just after operating a snowplow.)
–1 WI, Watertown. Heart attack shoveling snow; Herbert W. Birkholz, 73.

14 Vehicular accidents (includes one snowmobile death)
–1 IA, Charles City area, Apr 12. Car hits snowdrift, skids into path of car; Harvey W. Koehler, 59.
–1 IA, Forest City. 7-car crash; snowy road and conditions; Marlin Albertson, 36, of Wesley.
–1 IA, Grafton, Apr 12. Snowmobile accident: Mrs. Viola M. Walk, 50; noted as 16th fatality.
–2 MN, southeast, Apr 8-9. Near blizzard, two traffic pileups.
–3 WI, Beaver Dam, Hwy. 151, Dodge County, Apr 8. Car goes out of control on icy road.
–6 WI, Prairie Du Chien, Apr 8. Three-car accident.

1 Delay of emergency medical assistance due to snow-clogged/drifted roads.
–1 IA, Waukon area. Heart attack; snow-drifted roads prevented timely medical help; John Seibert, 54.

Narrative Information

Storm Data on Illinois: “North half…9-10 [date]…am, pm…2 [killed]…snow, wind.

“8 to 20 inches of snow driven by 60 mph winds piled up 12 foot drifts and paralyzed the North West and extreme North. 15 foot waves on Lake Michigan, damaged lakefront installations.” (Storm Data, Vol. 15, No. 4, April 1973, p. 4.

Storm Data on Iowa: “Statewide, excepting NW, extreme W and extreme SE…8-10 [dates]… snow storm with high winds.

Snow began the 8th. High winds, 40-50 mph, with gusts to 65 mph, began late the 8th continued the 9th and diminished thee 10th. Snow drifted as deep as 16 feet. Highways were closed, travel was suspended, properties were damaged or destroyed, livestock and poultry suffocated, high lines were downed and normal farm activities were even further delayed. Livestock and turkey losses approximated 20 million dollars, of which some 11 million was in cattle and calf losses. Record all time snowfalls were reported in several localities. Belle Plaine reported 20.3 inches snow, Dubuque 19.2 inches and Grundy Center 19.0 inches snow (3.8 inches water equivalent).” (Storm Data, 15/4, Apr 1973, p. 5.)

Storm Data on Minnesota: “Southeast Minnesota…8th [pm] & 9th [all day]…Near Blizzard.

“Eighteen southeastern counties covered by snowfall of 4 to 20 inches which started late afternoon of 8th and continued through afternoon of 9th. Winds on the 9th up to 70 mph reduced visibility to near zero. Deepest snow of 20″ reported at Grand Meadow, Mower County with 17″ at Preston, Fillmore County; Wabasha, Wabasha County, recorded 16″ as did Hokah, Houston County. Schools closed, utilities disrupted. Field work halted after a snowless March. Although highway traffic virtually at a standstill there were two pileups that resulted in two fatalities. One man died while shoveling snow to free his truck.” (Storm Data, 15/4, Apr 1973, p. 7.)

Storm Data on Nebraska: “All Nebraska…7-8…Heavy snow and high winds. A winter storm dropped snow over most of the state. In western Nebraska 11 inches of snow accumulated. Some drifts in the Hastings area were 8 to 10 feet high. Slick roads caused vehicle damage. U.S. 73 between Blair and Fort Calhoun closed 11 hours.” (Storm Data, 15/4, Apr 1973, p. 9.)

Storm Data on Wisconsin: “South half of State…8-9 [dates]…Snowstorm, Wind. Severe late season snowstorm brought 10-20 inches of badly drifted snow to Wisconsin. Heavies snowfall in southwestern Wisconsin. Many highways, including the interstate system, closed for up to 48 hours. Several weath4r related deaths occurred due to heart attacks and traffic mishaps. Storm the worst since 1921. Winds gusted above 50 mph in most southern counties causing scattered wind damage.” (Storm Data, 15/4, Apr 1973, p. 15.)

Newspapers

April 11, IA: “….The storm situation in Iowa was stabilizing by Wednesday [11th]. Residents were finding, then removing snowed-in cars as street and highway crews labored to push back the snow that limited some thoroughfares to a single lane Tuesday.

“Temperatures plunged to 11 at Dubuque during the night, a record low for April 11. Waterloo’s 17 was also a record. Ottumwa reported 20, while Council Bluffs was the warmest with 29. Highs Tuesday ranged from 32 at Ottumwa to 47 at Sioux City….

“The death cunt from storm-related incidents reached 16 by Tuesday night. Most of the dead had perished through heart attacks they suffered while shoveling snow, pushing stuck vehicles or walking to shelter through the heavy, wet accumulation. One woman died of a stroke en route to a hospital after rescuers battled for an hour to clear streets to her Cedar Rapids home. A man in Harvey was found dead in an outbuilding at his home Monday night. Neighbors said they saw a light in the structure that morning, but were unable to reach it – and the body of Jake Webb, 80, until night….” (Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA. “Melting snow swells rivers.” 4-11-1973, p. 2.)

April 11: “Record-breaking cold penetrated the deep South today while in Iowa a rapid temperature rise following a big spring snowstorm was expected to bring new flood threats. In the midwest the storm left 42 dead then moved northeast and covered portions of New England with up to eight inches of snow….” (UPI. “Storm Takes Toll in Midwest, Moves to New England States.” Daily Herald, Provo, UT, 4-11-1973, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Accidents claim 9.” Fergus Falls Journal, MN. 4-9-1973, p. 2. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fergus-falls-daily-journal-apr-09-1973-p-2/

Associated Press. “Iowa’s Spring Storm Takes Lives of 13.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 4-11-1973, 2C. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cedar-rapids-gazette-apr-11-1973-p-64/

Associated Press. “Minnesotans feel new storm blasts.” Daily Journal, Fergus Falls, MN. 4-10-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fergus-falls-daily-journal-apr-10-1973-p-1/

Austin Daily Herald, MN. “1 Death Reported in City. Austin area hit by worst April storm in 92 years.” 4-10-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-herald-apr-10-1973-p-1/

Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA. “Eleven persons die. Record storm hits Iowa.” 4-10-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/keokuk-daily-gate-city-apr-10-1973-p-1/

Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA. “Melting snow swells rivers.” 4-11-1973, p. 2. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/keokuk-daily-gate-city-apr-11-1973-p-2/

Des Moines Register, IA. “14 Iowans Dead in Wake of Paralyzing Blizzard.” 4-11-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/des-moines-register-apr-11-1973-p-1/

Des Moines Register, IA. “Move to Clear Small Roads.” 4-12-1973, p. 3. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/des-moines-register-apr-12-1973-p-3/

Des Moines Register, IA. “Storm” continued from p.1., 4-11-1973, p. 4. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/des-moines-register-apr-11-1973-p-4/

Environmental Data Service, NOAA. Asheville, NC. Storm Data, Vol. 15, No. 4, April 1973. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-2ED32538-1EEA-4FA9-82F0-30C6EC0C7CDF.pdf

Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. “Second Snow Shoveler Dies…” 4-11-1973, p. 8. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-journal-standard-apr-11-1973-p-8/

Mt. Vernon Register-News, IL. “Strong Winds Whip South Illinois; One Death in Spring Snowstorm.” 4-10-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mount-vernon-register-news-apr-10-1973-p-1/

United Press International. “Storm Takes Toll in Midwest, Moves to New England States.” Daily Herald, Provo, UT, 4-11-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/provo-daily-herald-apr-11-1973-p-1/

Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Sun Melts Our Hearts, and also a Lot of Snow.” 4-11-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-wisconsin-state-journal-apr-11-1973-p-1/

Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Traffic Crashes Kill 16 as Winter Glazes Roads.” 4-9-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-wisconsin-state-journal-apr-09-1973-p-2/