Obit. mid-Missouri newspaper - May 1926: " John Boessen, aged about 33 years, was killed by lightning Tuesday afternoon at about 4 o'clock on his farm on Brush Creek about three miles southwest of Loose Creek. Mr. Boessen and members of his family had been working in his garden when the rain coming up, they started for the house. He had a spade on his shoulder, but whether it had anything to do with attracting lightning or not is not determined, a bolt struck him and he crumbled up and died instantly. Mr. Boessen's sister-in-law, Miss Mary Bescheinen, was also severely shocked."