Donald Schrader
Jan. 26, 1922-March 15, 1943
Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 15, 1943, page 1, col. 3 and cont. page 3, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library
DONALD SCHRADER KILLED, UNCLE NEAR DEATH IN CRACKUP
Daugherty in Hospital;
Russell Hath Hurt as
Car Rolls on Old US-31
Donald Schrader, 20, Route 2, Niles, was killed instantly, his uncle Ira Daugherty, South Bend, injured critically, and a cousin, Russell Hath, 936 Pine street, rendered unconscious in Berrien county's first fatal traffic crash of 1943 on the old South Bend-Niles road at 2 this morning.
The three men were riding to Niles when the right rear tire of the car, driven by Schrader, reportedly blew out causing the car to swerve to the side of the road where it turned over and rolled 60 feet near the B. and R. forwarding company, south of the Michigan Mushroom company.
City police and ambulances were called and the injured were taken to Pawating hospital, where Daughterty was reported in a critical condition this afternoon. His injuries consist of severe concussions of the head and a dislocated left shoulder.
Among the first to arrive at the scene of the accident were two night workers at the Michigan Mushroom company, George Holmes and Orrel Pointer. When the tire blew out, Holmes said, the car evidently took a violent lurch, leaving the highway and turning over at once and beginning to roll.
Returned Motorcycle
Daugherty, a South Bend engineer, had spent the afternoon and evening visiting with Niles relatives, and accompanied Schrader and Hath to the home of Theodore Schrader, brother of Donald, who lives near the Bell school, south of Niles, to return a motorcycle belonging to Theodore. The men left for the return to Niles about 2.
Daugherty was bringing the younger men back to Niles, intending to return to his home in South Bend later.
Donald Schrader was an employe of the Clark Equipment company in Buchanan. He was born in Dowagiac, Jan. 26, 1922, and had lived in Niles since early childhood.
He is survived by his wife and young son, Joseph Samuel Schrader, who live with his parents, Mr.and Mrs. Samuel Johnston in the Route 2 home; also by three brothers--Theodore, south of Niles; Edward, at home and Pvt. Joseph Schrader, in the air corps training base at Spokane, Wash.; and one sister, Mrs. Douglas Byrd, 943 Pine street.
Friends may call at the Prince[sic] and Kiger funeral home until Tuesday night. The service will be held Wednesday in the Evangelical church, of which he was a member, according to plans still incomplete.
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 16, 1943, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library
Schrader Funeral Friday; Uncle Remains in Coma
Funeral services for Donald Schrader, of the Barron lake community, will be held in First Evangelical church Friday afternoon at 2, conducted by Rev. A.C. DeVries, pastor of the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
With an uncle, Ira Daugherty, South Bend, and a cousin, Russell Hath, Niles, Schrader was driving the Daugherty car into Niles early Monday morning when the car went off the road and rolled 60 feet, killing Schrader instantly.
Daugherty, critically injured, is in Pawating hospital, still in a coma from head concussions and a dislocated shoulder.
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 20, 1943, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library
Crash Victims Buried in Rites 24 Hours Apart
Final rites for Ira Daugherty, South Bend, Niles crash victim, were conducted this afternoon at 3 in the First Evangelical church where the funeral for his nephew, Donald Schrader, Niles, was conducted 24 hours earlier.
The Rev. A.C. DeVries, pastor of the church, officiated at both services and burial is in Silverbrook cemetery.
Daugherty, who died Thursday morning, was the second victim of the automobile accident on the old Niles-South Bend highway in which Schrader was killed instantly early Monday morning.