In Memory
Joseph William Early
Jul. 18, 1951 - May 17, 1975
An elementary grade teacher at Kennedy School was killed late Saturday afternoon when a borrowed motorcycle he was riding crashed into several wooden posts along the 1800 block of Riverside.
Dead is Joseph W. Early, 23, of 1414 Woodlawn. His father, James Early, is the principal at Jackson High School.
According to Deputy St. Joseph County Coroner Louis Grwinski, Early died of a broken neck and internal injuries.
The accident happened about 5:45 p.m. when Early apparently missed a curve while riding the motorcycle south on Riverside. City Officer Paul Niezgodski said the motorcycle crossed the center line at the curve and headed toward the parking lot of a fishing site at the St. Joseph River.
The motorcycle struck two wooden posts that serve as guards, he reported. Early, who reportly was riding with a friend when the accident occurred, flew about 20 feet into the air and hit his head on another wooden post.The impact cracked his motorcycle helmet, police said.
Police said Early’s friend, who was riding ahead on another cycle, was unaware of the accident until he turned back and drove to the scene of the accident.
Early was born July 18, 1951, in Anderson and lived in South Bend for 22 years. He was a graduate of Indiana University at Bloomington and taught the sixth grade at Kennedy School.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Early of South Bend; his grandmother, Mrs. Fern Kirklin of Franklin; a brother, Gene Richard of South Bend, and a sister, Mrs. Anne Woodard of Waunakee, Wis.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Welsheimer Funeral Home, 521 N. William, where services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, with Rev. Robert A. Curtis, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating . Burial will be in Southlawn Cemetery.
03/31/2021 DEC
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