This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: farwellwalter Surnames: Johnson, Snodgrass, Hall, Allen, Fitzmaurice, Lake, Williams, Wright Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.iowa.counties.fremont/7599/mb.ashx Message Board Post: SIDNEY ARGUS-HERALD. April 11, 1946. "THURMAN LAD LOSES LIFE IN CAR ACCIDENT."-- Francis Johnson was fatally injured in an automobile accident early Sunday morning. He had been to Sidney Saturday night and left for his home at Thurman about 2:00 a.m., but when he was near the Snodgrass home, 2 1/2 miles east of Thurman, his car plunged into the ditch at the side of the road. His skull was fractured, chest crushed, one leg broken besides other injuries. He was unconscious when found about six o'clock Sunday morning and taken to the Hamburg hosptial but never regained consciousness. There was no one with him at the time of the accident, and it was thought he fell asleep for an instant, thus causing the car to leave the road. He died about six o'clcok Sunday evening. Francis Bernard Johnson, son of Raymond and Alice Johnson, was born in Thurman, June 18, 1918, and passed away at the Hamburg hospital Sunday evening April 7, 1946. He attended the Thurman schools and outside of a few months in the CCC camp at Sidney and Red Oak, and three years and five months in the service of the United States Army, Francis spent his life in Thnurman. Francis was overseas 18 months during which time he served in the 5th Army, Company L, 337th Infantry, in the European Theater of War. He entered the army May 21, 1942, and was discharged October 21, 1945, and was in three major battles and received the Bronze Medal, Good Conduct Medal, as well as various other medals for distinguised service. He was a member of the American Legion post at Sidney. He was a quiet and non-assuming boy and was respected and admired by all his friends and associates. Surviving are his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Johnson, of Thurman; three sisters, Mrs. Alvin Hall and Mrs. Willliam Allen of Thurman, Mrs. Frank Fitzmaurice of Portland, Ore.; and five brothers Arthur Leon, Raymond Junior, Robert Vernon, William Marion and Maurice LaVerne, all of Thurman. Francis has been employed with the Wenke Construction company of Thurman at the time of his death. Military funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 at the Methodist church, conducted by Chaplain A. C. Marston. Music was furnished by Jay Leeka, Mrs. Marie Davison and Lorena Leeka. Casket bearers were Bernard Stafford, Lt. Joseph Wight, Wilbur Travis, Everett Surface, Ralph Doil and Owren B. Martin. Honorary bearers were Dale Settell and Elbert Snodgras. Ushers were Paul Hickey and Norman Pierce. Flowers were in charge of Naomi Holloway, Pearl Cole, Eva Cupp and Hazel Surface. Interment was in the Thurman cemetery. Members of Williams-Jobe Gibson Post of Sidney attended, with a firing squad and taps at the graveside services. Out of town relatives attending the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lake of Elmwood, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Withrow of Farragut. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Williams of Council Bluffs Mr. and Mrs. Junior Williams of Council Bluffs Mrs. Byron Wright of Council Bluffs Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.