Marian Joyce Rettig was born 28 April 1934 to Joseph Rettig and Cornelia Wiever.
She attended Weaverton School before she tragically died after being struck by lightning on 25 Jul 1945 (age 11).
She is buried in Locust Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana, Section 17, Lot 20 E 1/2.
GIRL, 11, KILLED BY LIGHTNING
A severe electrical storm hit Henderson shortly after
9:30 a. m. today killing one person, injuring another, and disrupting electrical service.
Eleven-year-old Joyce Rettig, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rettig, was standing in the doorway of their new home, near Dick’s Tavern on Highway 41, when lightning struck her. She was dead when members of the family arrived with her at Dr. G. F. Jones’ office.
W. A, Brown, 9 Clark st, a city employe working at the pumper station on Outer Second Street, was knocked down when lightning struck nearby. He suffered minor chest injuries. The electrical storm was accompanied by high winds and heavy rain. Several power lines were blown down. Fire Chief Letcher Martin said firemen made three runs where wiring had started fires. An electric refrigerator caught fire at the home of Willis Wilkie, 721 Fitth av, after lightning hit the wires.
Electric wiring also burned through at the home of Herman Barrow, outer Fifth Street. Lightning hit one of the utility poles on Outer Fifth Street, knocking service out there. Lines feeding the municipal water pump and large power turbine, were also hit. Service was still out in that area at noon. The body of Joyce Rettig was taken to the Moss Funeral Home. She is survived by brothers, Howard and Charles, at home, and a sister, Mrs. Viola Gilner, Wheeling, W. Va.
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