Herbert-Herman-Hemmye-72831

Obituary

Herbert H. Hemmye, 56, of 1401 Lincoln, unemployed radioman, was found shot to death in his 2 room house Sunday night, apparently a suicide case. Robert O. Giles, county coroner ruled the death a suicide and said Hemmye had been dead for about two days. E.F. Hemmye, brother of the victim, called police and said he had not seen Herbert for several days. He requested an investigation and added that his brother had been despondent and unemployed for some time. Officers took off a storm window, broke a window pane to unlock the sash, then opened the door. Hemmye was found in the kitchen, lying face down on the floor. A 12 gauge shotgun was beside him on the floor. At the feet of the dead man was an overturned chair. Investigators said he apparently put the gun against his chest as he sat in the chair, then pitched forward onto the floor. The shot struck him in the chest, just left of center. Newspapers for Friday and Saturday were on the porch of the place where Hemmye lived alone. Officers said the small home was near and clean. The body was taken to Giles funeral home. Hemmye was born in Burlington Apr. 2, 1900, the son of John and Anna Hemmye. He was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Baptist faith. Surviving are a son, Robert, Burlington route one; a brother, Emil, of Burlington; four sisters, Mrs. Esther Taeger, New London; Mrs. Lydia Johnson, Omaha, Neb.; Mrs. Florence Schmidt, Sperry and Edith Veerman, Burlington and his step-father Edward Veerman, also of Burlington. Service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Giles funeral home. Rev. Emanuel Wolff officiating.