Fred Roeder

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR FRED ROEDER HELD MONDAY

Retired Roberts Farmer Killed Instantly Friday by Green Diamond

Funeral services for Frederick August Roeder, who was killed instantly at 1:05 Friday afternoon when his automobile was struck by the Illinois Central Green Diamond one mile north east of Melvin, were held Monday afternoon at the home of his son, Harvey Roeder of Roberts, and at the Roberts Methodist church.
Rev. Brooks Barker, pastor of the Methodist church, officiated and burial followed in Lyman cemetery.
Mr. Roeder was the only occupant of the car and was traveling west on a country road, which intersects the railroad tracks at an angle.
It is assumed that Mr. Roeder's vision was obscured by a heavy snow accompanied by high winds.
The train, which was reported to be running behind schedule, was delayed 30 minutes following the accident but was reported undamaged by its conductor, William Tate of Chicago.
An inquest into the death was held Monday evening at the Danforth funeral home in Roberts by County Coroner Henry Hanson. The coroner's jury brought in a verdict of accidental death.
Mr. Roeder was born at Roberts September 27, 1876, a son of John Henry and Mary Plock Roeder. He was married to Dorothy Zahn on June 12, 1901 at Roberts and they resided on farms in the Roberts community until retiring and moving to Paxton one year ago.
The Roeders recently purchased the home of Dr. and Mrs. C. I. Safford on West Orleans street and moved in last Saturday. They had been living at the extreme east edge of Pells street.
Surviving are his widow; a son, Harvey of Roberts; one grandson, Delford of Roberts; two great grandsons; a brother, Daniel of Gilman; two sisters, Mrs. Lena Zahn and Mrs. Mary Tarvin of Roberts.
Mr. Roeder was a member of the Roberts Methodist church.
The lone witness to the accident, the fuel engineer of the Green Diamond, said that Roeder's car stalled on the track but that he didn't think the engine actually was killed until the train whistled as it approached the crossing. The car was carried about 40 yards before being knocked off the track.

--Paxton Record.  20 December 1951.