John Jahnke

Service Number 3913478
Branch Company E, 217th Engineers
Enlistment August 3, 1918
Discharge February 3, 1919

John August Jahnke John August Jahnke was born in Grant City, Iowa, July 16, 1900, to August and Cora (Carr) Jahnke and passed away at the age of 50 years on March 6, 1951, at his home due to a fatal electric shock. The mishap occurred at about 5:30 in the afternoon. Mr. Jahnke who had a great interest in electricity and in being an amateur radio operator thought perhaps the motor he was working on wasn't getting enough electrical current. Somehow John got in contact with his hand from a wire and suddenly become unconscious.

John had been Great Western Depot Agent in Harlan for 25 years. John also was a veteran of WWI and a member of the Masonic Lodge.

John is survived by his wife, Willia (Scott) and two sons, John and Paul, also a sister, Mrs. Avery Henderson of Omaha, Nebraska.

Burial in Harlan Cemetery.

Electric Shock Fatal To John Jahnke; Services Will Be Held Saturday
Depot Agent Here For 25 Years
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, at the Bethel Baptist Church for John Jahnke, 50, who died late Tuesday afternoon, March 6, 1941, following an accident at his College Heights home in Harlan. Rev. A.H. Halversen will be in charge of services with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.

Jahnke met sudden death in an unusual manner.

It was about 5:30 pm Tuesday afternoon when the mishap occurred. His son Paul, and Paul's high school friend, Harris Jorgensen, were in John's workshop upstairs. There John was attempting to get a small electric motor, of the dime store variety, to run. Paul had brought the model motor home from his Physic's Class.

Interested in Electricity
Mr. Jahnke, who had great interest in electricity and in being an amateur radio operator, thought, perhaps, the motor wasn't getting enough electrical current.

In the course of working with the tiny motor, John showed the boys a wire coming from a power pack that he had built on his work bench. He said they shouldn't touch that wire, as it would give them quite a jolt but would not be fatal. Somehow, John got a contact in his hand from that wire. He suddenly stiffened, uttered a gasp, and took a few steps back. He started to fall to the floor and Paul caught him. He was unconscious from that moment until death. His hand showed a slight wire burn.

Paul rushed downstairs to tell his mother and she immediately called a doctor after advising Paul to start artificial respiration. Dr. Lawrence Larsen arrived at the scene within a few minutes and Mr. Jahnke was still breathing at that time.

Couldn't Be Revived
Dr. Larsen then sent for a resuscitator, kept at the fire hall, and it immediately was put to use, as well as artificial respiration being done by hand. Cliff Wigness and Herald Hammes of the fire department rescue squad soon arrived and started giving artificial respiration. This effort to revive Jahnke continued for almost two hours, but he never recovered from the instant of the sudden electrical shock.

Here 25 Years
Jahnke has been Great Western Depot Agent in Harlan for 25 years. He was a Veteran of WWI, and a member of the Masonic Lodge Lodge.

About the time of the accident, the family was making plans to leave shortly for Missouri Valley and attend the district basketball tournament. Paul is a member of the team, as is young Jorgensen.

Mr. Jahnke had many hobbies. Besides his interest in electricity, he was a "ham" radio operator and attended many state and local meetings with other hams. He was an amateur photographer, taking and printing his own pictures. He was also a telegrapher, airplane pilot, ardent sports fan, and liked to read a lot.

Mr. Jahnke is survived by his wife, Willia, two sons, John and Paul, and a sister, Mrs. Avery Henderson of Omaha, Nebraska.