George H. Winkelmann (1961)

Friends...although my memory is foggy I recall the following: Richard (Dick), and his older brother Charles (Chaz) were electrocuted while attempting to put up a ham radio antenna in their back yard, when the pole came in contact with a high voltage electrical line.  They came from a large family and, as I recall, the incident hit the South Bend community pretty hard.  Our family knew the Jordan family quite well as we all attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church out off of Lincoln Way West at the corner of Harrison and VanBuren.  Dick and I were fairly close and my older brother, John, was friends with Chaz.  I recall my father saying that it was one of the longest funeral processions he had ever seen, as we drove from St. Pauls to Highland Cemetery.  The boys graves are side by side and fairly close to where my mom and dad's bodies are buried.  It was a very emotional experience for a 15 year old.  We have completely lost touch with the family.  I pray for God's blessing on the brothers and sisters that may still be with us.  They were great boys and good friends!  RIP Richard & Charles!  G

Ronald Moyer (1961)

George:  what a sad story !  When I saw Richard's  In Memory notice, I thought that, gee, I did not remember him.  Then I read your story and looked back at the year of death.  So sorry !    
     At the 2005 national Boy Scout Jamboree, which I attended,  an adult leader was erecting a metal flagpole and touched a high voltage line.  Another adult jumped in to help.  Both were electrocuted.  It made the national news and my wife heard the story and was alarmed.  Fortunately, my troop had not yet arrived at the venue, Fort A P Hill, VA.  Their deaths clouded the whole week and spawned a new sets of rules regarding flagpoles !  Ron