Saturday afternoon about five o’clock Mr. Gotlieb Bockerman, whose home is in Dexterville, was killed by a switch engine about twenty rods west of the mill. Mr. Bockerman lived alone in the first house west of the John Lutz home, and was on his way home, but took the railroad for it instead of the sidewalk. A freight train was switching and struck him, knocking him to the foot of the high embankment. His forehead was badly split open. The accident was witnessed by J. P Jensen, and it was so clear that no blame attached to the train crew, that Coronor Pierce did not deem it necessary to hold an inquest. Mr. Bockerman was past 72 years of age and very deaf. He has no near relatives living here.

#2 Fremont Daily Herald, Fremont, NE - Thur, 23 Nov 1905

Arlington, Neb., Nov. 22--The remains of Gotlieb Bockerman, Sr., of Blair, were taken to Arapahoe for burial accompanied by Henry Bockerman of Kansas City, Mo.; Gotlieb Bockerman of Arapahoe; Fred Votth and Mrs. Ed. Lallman of Arlington, sons and daughters. Mr. Bockerman, sr., was instantly killed at Blair Saturday by a switch engine, which was making a flying switch. Mr. Bockerman was off the track, but lost his balance and fell toward the front step of the engine.

Mr. Bockerman was 71 years old and ten children survive him. He was an old settler of Washington county, going to Furnas county fifteen years ago, where he remained until about one year ago, when he returned to Blair as a retired farmer, having in his possession large tracts of land in Furnas county.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~