The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-26
DUESENBERC IS
DEAD; IN COMA
AS LIFE FADES
Sudden Relapse Is Fatal to
Engineer; Wife, Son
at Bedside.

/ Fred S. Duesenberg, 81, vice
president in charge of engineering
of DueSenberg, Inc, local automo-
bile manufacturers, died today at
1925 eastern daylight time) in a
Johnstown (Pa) hospital
For three weeks the pioneer motor
engineer, whose racing creations
won victories in international speed
events, battled for his life after an
automobile accident, July 2, on Lig-
onier mountain.
He was taken to the hospital with
a spinal injury and diSlocated
shoulder. Double pneumonia de-
veloped and for several days it was
thought he would not recover.
In Coma at Death
Mrs. Duesenberg, and Denny,
their son, rushed from the home at
1920 Fall Creek boulevard, to the
bedside. They were with him when
he died.
Mrs. Duesenberg and her son will
laave Johnstown today with the
body, arriving in Indianapolis
Wednesday. Funeral services here
will be held Thursday or Friday, de-
pending on arrival of relatives. Au-
gust Duesenberg, brother of Fred,
and closely associated with him in
the development of speed creations,
awaits arrival of the body.
Several days ago attending physl-
clans issued encouraging reports
that the crisis of the pneumonia
had been passed and that Mr.. Dues
enberg was out of danger from that
complication of his injuries. Late
Monday he suffered a relapse and
early this morning went into coma
from which he never aroused.
News Is Severe Shock
News of the death of their leader
was a tremendous shock to his aSso
ciateS at the Duesenberg factory
here. Recent reports from the hos
pital gave rise to expectation of his
recovery.
Surviving Mr.. Duesenberg in
addition to the widow and son, are
three brothers, August, of Indianap-
oils; Conrad, of Rockford, Ia, and
Henry Duesenberg of Garner, Ia,
and three sisters, Mrs, Minnie Smith
of Rockford, Mrs. Lena Laun, OF
Charles City, Ia, and Mrs. Amelia
Malcolm, of Los Angeles.
Mr.. Deussnberg was born in Ger
many in 1878, coming to this coun-
try when he was about 8. His early
interest in mechanics was turned TO
the then budding automobile bust
ness. At the turn of the century he
was assisting in the building of the
/ Mason car. one of the early expert
mental models.
Rick" Drove First
During his career Mr.. Deusen-
berg was associated with Indianapo-
lis activities, although his factory
was not moved here until 1921.
/ In common with other early auto
mobile men he used the country S
race tracks for a laboratory and for
nearly twenty years participated in
/ the 500-mile races here. where his
own entries and cars bearing the
name Duesenberg took part.
1t was in 1914 that the first Dues
enberg placed in the prize money.
It finished tenth and was driven by
E. V. eddie Rickenbacker, World
war ace and now president of the
indianapolis Motor Speedway, Since
that time Duesenberg cars have
been represented in every race.
In the last six years dating ap-
proximately from acquisition of an
! interest in DueSenberg. Inc. by the
Cord Corporation in 1926, Mr.. Dues
enberg devoted more attention to
passenger models rather than speed
creations.
The Duesenberg car. produced at
the 1911 West Washington street fac
tory, and recognized as an out
standing automotive creation
throughout the world, is the result
of Mr.. DueSenberg's efforts.