Obituary

  Final rites for Walter L. "Pete" Mack, 48, who was killed in an auto accident south of Viola on Wednesday July 28, 1954, at 4 p.m. were held from the Crummy Funeral home in Viola at 8.30 a.m., Saturday July 31, and from St. John's Catholic church of Viola at 9 a.m. with solemn high mass.
  Father Louis Schaechter was the celebrant; Father C. M. Meyer, church pastor, the deacon; and Father George Thompson, assistant pastor, sub-deacon. The funeral mass was sung by members of the Matherville and Viola church choirs, with Miss Anna McArdle the organist. Mrs. Anna Conway was accompanist for Frank Mack, Jr., soloist, who sung "O Salutaris."
  Interment was in St. John's cemetery north of Viola. Pallbearers were four cousins, Leo Mack, Daniel Mack, William Mack and James Mack, and Ralph Hyett and William Flaherty.
  A large number of relatives and friends from a distance were present for the funeral service.
Mr. Mack was born June 27, 1906, at the same farm where he resided at the time of his death, two miles north and one mile west of Viola. He was the son of Margaret Ellen Noonan Mack and the late Thomas F. Mack.
  He attended Green Summit school north of Viola and later was director of the school. He graduated from St. Ambrose academy in Davenport in 1923.
  He married Agnes Schaechter Jan 3, 1929. He followed the occupation of farmer and truck operator.
  Surviving are his wife, the former Agnes Schaechter; a daughter, Miss Eleanor Mack, nurse at Dr. M. E. Conway's office in Aledo; two sons, Tony, who left with the Viola Boy Scout post for New Mexico, Monday evening, and Dennis; a brother, Bert Mack of Viola; and two sisters, Mrs. Edna Wilson, who operates a nursing home in Chicago; and Sister Mary Janela in Dubuque, Ia. His mother, Mrs. Nelle Mack of Viola, also survives.
(The Times Record, August 4, 1954)

Hold Driver as Viola Farmer Dies in Crash

   Aledo, Ill. (Special)--Formal charges of leaving the scene of an accident were filed today against Charles David, 41, Reynolds, driver of the car in which Walter L. Mack, Viola farmer and trucker, was fatally injured Wednesday afternoon. Bond was not yet set.

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  Viola, Ill. -- (Special) --Walter L. "Pete" Mack, 48, Viola farmer and truck line operator was dead today and Charles David, 41, Reynolds driver of the Mack car, was being held in Mercer County jail following an automobile truck collision on Highway 67, three miles south of Viola, Wednesday at 4:50 p.m.
  The Mack car collided head-on with a truck operated by W. E. Sandstrom, 59, Alexis, police said. Mr. Mack, who was a passenger in the front seat of the automobile, died instantly.

  David was arrested Wednesday night by Mercer County Sheriff William Albertson and Gerald C. Johnson, state police officer.
  The two officers and State's Atty. James C. Allen, who questioned David at home Wednesday night before arresting him, said David fled into a field after the crash, later emerging to hitch a ride to Viola with George Morgan, Burgress.
  Sheriff Albertson indicated charges of leaving the scene of an accident would be filed against David, father of six children.

  Albertson said David admitted drinking both beer and "hard liquor."
  Authorities said Sandstrom stated David was driving in the wrong lane of traffic. David, according to police could not remember details of the collision.

  Mr. Mack was born June 17, 1906 at a farm home three miles northwest of Viola, where he still lived at the time of the accident. He attended Green Summit school, of which he later served as a director. He graduated from St. Ambrose Academy and married Agnes Schaechter Jan 3, 1929. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, Viola.
  Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Eleanor, at home; two sons, Dennis who returned from the U. S. Navy, May 6, and Richard Anthony "Tony", at home; his mother, Mrs. Thomas Mack; two sisters, Sister Mary Janela, BVM, Waterloo, and Mrs. Edna Wilson, Midlothian, Ill., and a brother, Bert Mack, mayor of Viola.
  The body is at Crummy Funeral Home, Viola. The Rosary will be recited there at 7:30 p.m. (CST) Friday. The funeral will be held Saturday morning with a requiem mass at St. John's Catholic Church.
(July 28, 1954)