Rex Dale ‘Dale’ Braden was born Dec. 12, 1917 to Raymond Loren and Beulah Braden. He died Dec. 11, 1954 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Sgt. Braden served with the U.S. Army in World War II as a supply sergeant with an artillery unit.
Death Notice: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Dec. 11, 1954
TRAIN-TRUCK CRASH PROVES FATAL TO W.C. MAN
Dale Braden, 36, Succumbs to Head Injuries
Packing Company Truck Hit by Switch Engine at Waterloo
Injuries suffered in a truck-train crash at Waterloo proved fatal early this morning to Dale Braden, 36, Webster City, who died shortly after midnight at a Waterloo hospital.
Officials of the Nissen packing Co. in City, where Braden had been employed for the past 18 years, said he was driving one of the packing company’s refrigerated trucks while out on a delivery route. The tragedy occurred at about 3:15 p.m. Friday at a crossing in the southwest section of Waterloo.
Hurled 96 Feet
A Rock Island switch engine hit the right side of the truck as it was proceeding over the crossing, hurling the truck 96 feet. The truck roller over at least once before landing upright in the yard of a residence.
The impact hurled Braden against the windshield, and he was thrown almost clear of the truck which was described as a total loss.
Death was attributed to a fracture of the lower skull. Schultz Memorial hospital attendants said he failed to regain consciousness.
A veteran employee of the Webster City packing firm, Braden was employed as sales manager in the plant but was familiar with nearly all phases of the company’s operations.
One of the regular truck drivers was ill Friday, so he took over the delivery route through the Waterloo area.
Funeral Services Here
Funeral services will be announced later with McCauley-Chapman funeral home in charge, with Rev. M. E. Suhr officiating. Burial will be in Graceland cemetery.
Dale Braden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Braden, was born Dec. 12, 1918, at Afton, Iowa. He attended school and was graduated from high school at Winterset, Iowa, in 1936, coming to Webster City the same year to accept employment with the Nissen Packing Co.
He was united in marriage to Miss Irene Janson of Webster City on Oct. 12, 1941, at Fairfield, Iowa. The family had always resided in Webster City since that time.
Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Dalene Sue and Rebecca Lynne; his mother, Mrs. Beulah Calkins of California; two brothers, Clifford of Freeport, Ill. and Philip of Norwalk, Calif.; his step-mother, Mrs. Ray Braden of Webster City.
He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers.
Mr. Braden was a member of American Legion, having served during World War II in the U.S. armed forces. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, the O.E.S., White Shrine, and the Civil Air Patrol.
He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran church.
Source: ancestry.com
