Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

SBT 2/25/1932

Adam Rutkowski

August 8, 1899 – February 25, 1932

TAKES RIDE FOR FUN; KILLED AS CAR HITS POLE

Impact Drives Iron Picket into Head of 32 Year Old Adam Rutkowski

FRIEND DRIVING IS INJURED

Swerves Truck to Avoid Striking Trailer Four Miles West of City

Adam Rutkowski, age 32, of 1118 South Spring Street, Mishawaka, had a day off today and decided to spend it riding around with his friend and neighbor, Ralph Alexander, 1120 South Spring Street, Mishawaka, in the latter’s truck.  He was instantly killed about an hour after they started out together. 

The accident took place about 7:10am just over the crest of the hill on state highway No. 2, Western Avenue, at the edge of the St Joseph Cemetery, about four miles west of the city, when Alexander is believed to have swerved his truck suddenly to the left to avoid hitting a parked truck trailer, and hit a telephone pole and an iron fence.  An iron picket was driven into the back of Rutkowski’s head.

Alexander sustained a slight concussion and lost consciousness almost immediately.  Upon being revived in Epworth Hospital, he said the last thing he remembered was that a large truck and trailer loomed up before him suddenly on the right of the road as he breasted the crest of the hill, and that he swerved to the left to avoid it.

Alexander is employed as a maintenance man by the Shell Oil Company, and was engaged in covering his route visiting rural filling stations when the accident occurred.  The tracks left on the roadway ten to verify Alexander’s remembrance of what happened.  No trace of the trailer was found, however, by the time help arrived.

Rutkowski was employed as a machinist by the Studebaker Corporation.  He was born in South Bend August 8, 1899, and had lived in South Bend & Mishawaka all his life.  Besides his widow, Mrs. Martha Andrzejewska Rutkowski, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Josephine Rutkowski, 1821 South Kendall Street, and by three children, Irvin Eugene, 10, Robert Kendall, seven, and Aldine May, three.

The body will remain at the Forest G. Hay Mortuary until Friday morning when it will be taken to the residence.

SBT 2/26/1932

Funeral Notes

Funeral services for Adam Rutkowski of 1118 Spring Street, Mishawaka, killed in an automobile accident Thursday, will take place at 9 o’clock Monday morning in St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Mishawaka.  Rev. Felix Seroczynski, pastor, will read the Mass and burial will be made in St Joseph Cemetery, South Bend.