09/08/1975
Monday afternoon, September 8, 1975, the death of Karen Janice (Karr) Hemmer, 26, of Knoxville, Iowa has been ruled to have been caused by lightning having struck the home, according to Dr. John E. Griffin, county medical examiner.
He said that as far as could be determined, the death was undoubtedly caused by the lightning that had struck the home. He further stated that Mrs. Hemmer was found lying on top of the one and one-half-year-old child of the Hemmers, who was unharmed. Mrs. Hemmer and the child were found in the kitchen. Dr. Griffin reported that lightning had apparently hit the Hemmer home at 1205 N. Depot at 1:18 p.m., striking the television antenna.
The strength of the lightning was powerful enough, Dr. Griffin said, to have vaporized the television lead-in wire which was apparently lying across electrical wires in the attic of the house, through which the lightning entered the house. The reason that the child sustained no injury, Dr. Griffin explained, was the apparent lack of any skin-to-skin contact between Mrs. Hemmer and the child.
Karen was born February 12, 1949, the daughter of Herman Fredrick Karr (b.June 9,1922-d.Dec 13, 1989) and Ruby Darlene Gilchrist.
She graduated in Knoxville, Iowa with the class of 1967.
Funeral services for Karen Hemmer were held from the First Baptist Church, Knoxville Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. with Rev. Thomas E. Wheeler officiating.
Interment was at Breckenridge Cemetery.
Survived by her, husband James, and 2 daughters, Robin and Kacey. Her parents, Herman Fredrick and Ruby Darlene Gilchrist Karr.; one brother, Edward (all of Knoxville), and grandmother, Mrs. Blanche Gilchrist.
Burial: Breckenridge Cemetery, Harvey, Marion County, Iowa