REV. DAVID HYGEMA LOSES LIFE IN AUTOMOBILE COLLISION
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD MONDAY AT M. B. C. CHURCH
The community of Wakarusa was saddened Friday morning when the news
spread hastily that there had been a serious accident on mile south of Madison school in
Madison township, at the intersection of Dogwood and Patterson road, and that Rev.
David Hygema, 76, had lost his life. His son-in-law, Charles Weldy, 47, with whom Rev.
Hygema was riding at the time of the accident and who, with his wife and son, live on the
Hygema farm, 2 ½ miles southeast of where the accident occurred, suffered possible
internal injuries, fracture of the right hip and is in the St. Joseph where his condition is
reported fair.
Todd Schalliol, 52 and his son, Roger Schalliol, occupants of the other car, live
six miles northwest of town. The older Mr. Schalliol suffered a fracture of the right hand,
both wrists were badly sprained and cuts about the face and chine. The son, Roger, 21,
was cut about the face and chin and received injuries to his right knee cap.
Mr. Hygema had accompanied Mr. Weldy to the Wyatt Elevator Company to get
some feed and they were on their way home on a gravel road. The Schalliols were
returning home from a trip to Bremen and were traveling on the pavement.
Roger Schalliol said that he saw the Weldy car approaching from the west, but
presumed it would stop for the pavement. The Schalliol car struck Weldy’s sedan
broadside. There is no stop sign on either road.
Both Mr. Hygema and Mr. Weldy were thrown from their car, along with the
front seat and the rear cushion and the cargo of chop feet. Neither occupant of the
Schalliol car was thrown out, but the head or hand of one broke a hole in the windshield.
Young Schalliol bore so heavily on his steering wheel that it was bent some inches
downward. The front end of the car was badly damaged, as was the right side of the
Weldy car.
The Mr. Hygema had previously had two narrow escapes from death in
automobile accidents. On January 20, 1939, his car had dropped down a ten-foot
embankment, about 7 miles northwest of town, where a bridge was out. He failed to see
the warning sign. Several years earlier his car had crashed into a Wabash freight train at
a crossing near his home, and derailed a box car. He was not seriously hurt in either of
these accidents.
Coroner Grillo said he probably would return a verdict of accidental death after an
inquest delayed pending developments in Mr. Weldy’s condition.
Rev. Hygema is retired minister of Mennonite Brethren in Christ church. Many
were his acquaintances and friends who called at the home and attended the last rites to
one who had untiringly ministered to many.
He walked the highway of his own life, and kept the company of his master and
knew that his eternity was safe.
Rev. Hygema was born in Kosciusko county in 1863, the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Romkey Hygema, who had come to America from Holland. Surviving are his widow,
whom he married February 4, 1885; five children, Mrs. Irvin Hygema of Dayton, O.;
Irvin Hygema of Lakeville; Mrs. Joseph Ummel of south of Elkhart, and Miss Grace
Hygema at home; a brother, Rev. Jacob Hygema of Fort Wayne, and a sister, Mrs.
Martha Ressor of Nappanee.
Funeral services were held at 1:30 p. m. Monday at the home and at 2 p. m. in the
Mennonite Brethren in Christ church in Wakarusa with Rev. L. L. Rassi of Nappanee
officiating, assisted by Rev. H. E. Miller of Elkhart and Rev. A. B. Yoder of this place.
Burial was made in South Union cemetery.
2-29-1940