Clare -- A young Fort Dodge man died Sunday morning after he was accidentally shot in the head by his younger brother while they were hunting squirrels near Clare.
Dead is 19-year-old James Heddinger, 1304 Ave. C, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Heddinger, 1712 3rd Ave. S, and husband of the former Theresa Summers whom he had married just three weeks ago here. She is the daughter of Richard Summer, RFD 4.
The shooting accident happened about 8:45 a.m. near the James Lawler farm home two miles south and one-half mile east of Clare. Heddinger and his brother Steve, 18, were hunting with .22 caliber rifles. Steve was positioned at the top of a rise, and James was part way down a small hill. Webster County Sheriff Ray McCoy said James was to have been in a pre-arranged position, but had moved from that location without Steve's knowledge. Steve fired his gun at what he thought was a squirrel, striking his brother in the right temple.
The Lawler family had returned from church services at about the same time the shooting took place. Cries for help were heard, and the Lawler son found the two young men and summoned help.
Heddinger was taken to Bethesda General Hospital by the Clare Rescue Unit, where he died about an hour later.
Services for the youth will be 9 a.m.Wednesday in Gunderson-Sellergren Memorial Chapel, and at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church with the Rev. Msgr. E.L. McEvoy as celebrant of a Requiem High Mass. Burial will be at Corpus Christi Cemetery. Rosaries will be recited at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the funeral home where friends may call after 6 p.m. Monday.
Besides his widow, Heddinger is survived by his parents; brothers: Donald and Steven, Fort Dodge; sisters: Misses Barbara and Jane, both at home; grandparents: Walter Heddinger, Gilmore City, and Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Rork, Fort Dodge.
James Heddinger was born, reared, and educated in Fort Dodge, having attended Corpus Christi Catholic School and graduating from St. Edmond in 1970. He was active in football, wrestling, and Key Club while at St. Edmond and had been a member of the Fort Dodge Knights boxing team. The past year and a half he had been employed by the Chicago & North Western Railroad. He married Theresa Summers at Corpus Christi Sept. 2.
Barbara Lyman (Lyman-Kluck)
James Heddinger
WHERE IS JAMES W HEDDINGER BURIED?Memorial Change Request
BURIAL Corpus Christi Cemetery
Fort Dodge, IA
Section K Lot 81 Grave 10
Barbara Lyman (Lyman-Kluck)
From the Fort Dodge Messenger:
James Heddinger
On squirrel hunt, he's fatally shot
Clare -- A young Fort Dodge man died Sunday morning after he was accidentally shot in the head by his younger brother while they were hunting squirrels near Clare.
Dead is 19-year-old James Heddinger, 1304 Ave. C, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Heddinger, 1712 3rd Ave. S, and husband of the former Theresa Summers whom he had married just three weeks ago here. She is the daughter of Richard Summer, RFD 4.
The shooting accident happened about 8:45 a.m. near the James Lawler farm home two miles south and one-half mile east of Clare. Heddinger and his brother Steve, 18, were hunting with .22 caliber rifles. Steve was positioned at the top of a rise, and James was part way down a small hill. Webster County Sheriff Ray McCoy said James was to have been in a pre-arranged position, but had moved from that location without Steve's knowledge. Steve fired his gun at what he thought was a squirrel, striking his brother in the right temple.
The Lawler family had returned from church services at about the same time the shooting took place. Cries for help were heard, and the Lawler son found the two young men and summoned help.
Heddinger was taken to Bethesda General Hospital by the Clare Rescue Unit, where he died about an hour later.
Services for the youth will be 9 a.m.Wednesday in Gunderson-Sellergren Memorial Chapel, and at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church with the Rev. Msgr. E.L. McEvoy as celebrant of a Requiem High Mass. Burial will be at Corpus Christi Cemetery. Rosaries will be recited at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the funeral home where friends may call after 6 p.m. Monday.
Besides his widow, Heddinger is survived by his parents; brothers: Donald and Steven, Fort Dodge; sisters: Misses Barbara and Jane, both at home; grandparents: Walter Heddinger, Gilmore City, and Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Rork, Fort Dodge.
James Heddinger was born, reared, and educated in Fort Dodge, having attended Corpus Christi Catholic School and graduating from St. Edmond in 1970. He was active in football, wrestling, and Key Club while at St. Edmond and had been a member of the Fort Dodge Knights boxing team. The past year and a half he had been employed by the Chicago & North Western Railroad. He married Theresa Summers at Corpus Christi Sept. 2.