Father, son die of carbon monoxide poisoning
By LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star
A father and son died Thursday morning after apparently succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning in their home near Wahoo.
Ronald Larsen, 55, and his 18-year-old son, Timothy, an all-state athlete and honor student, were found in their home at 1725 County Road 16, northeast of Wahoo.
“Ron and Tim were special human beings as loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend,” said Bob Bartee, Ron’s brother-in-law, Thursday. “This loss is tragically stunning.”
Deb Collins, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska State Patrol, said the two were found about 11:30 a.m., when Ronald’s brother-in-law and a friend stopped at the house to pick them up for a trip to Council Bluffs.
She said when no one answered the doorbell they went in and found Tim on the floor in a hallway and his father in an upstairs bedroom.
Investigators believe a faulty furnace may be to blame for their deaths. Collins said when the Larsens woke up Thursday morning, the house was cold and the furnace didn’t seem to be working. Ronald adjusted the thermostat and the furnace kicked in about 5 a.m., before Mary Larsen left for work at Wahoo Elementary School, where she’s a kindergarten teacher.
Collins said the family recently had the furnace worked on. The investigation into the deaths continues, though foul play is not suspected, she said.
Word of the Larsen family’s tragedy spread quickly in Wahoo.
School officials announced it to staff and students and even postponed a high school girls basketball game Thursday night between Wahoo and Raymond Central.
While she didn’t know Ron, Annie Kobold said she knew Tim, and he was a good guy. Kobold, who works at a local tanning salon, said she was especially shocked to learn how the father and son died.
“It was just like it could have happened to anybody,” she said.
Ron’s brother-in-law said his family was thankful for the community’s kind response.
“We appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love and support from family and friends,” Bob Bartee said.
Ron Larsen was a farmer and his son, Tim, had just graduated last year from Wahoo High School.
A student with a 4.0 GPA, Tim Larsen ranked No. 1 in his class and was named to the Journal Star’s Academic All-State Team in football and boys golf during his senior year.
As a freshman at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Larsen was a back-up nose tackle for the Prairie Wolves’ football team last fall. Larsen played in all 10 games, recording 16 tackles and earning a varsity letter.
On Thursday, Wesleyan football coach Brian Keller said that with the improvement Larsen had shown last season, he was someone the Prairie Wolves looked to build their defensive line around in the future.
As a student, Larsen was interested in pre-medicine and management, according to Keller. The spring semester at Nebraska Wesleyan is set to begin Monday.
“Tim was a bright student,” Keller said. “He was a very engaging young man and he had tremendous potential as an athlete. He had it all.
“It’s just a tremendous loss for the Wesleyan community.”
Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. Staff writer Todd Henrichs contributed to this report.
Prevention tips
Paying close attention to your health is, perhaps, the best way to monitor whether you are being exposed to lethal carbon monoxide.
Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea and fainting.
Here are a few more tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:
* Have only a qualified technician install or make updates to fuel-burning equipment.
* Have the heating system, chimney and flue inspected and cleaned by a qualified technician every year.
* Do not use ovens and gas ranges to heat your home.
* Do not burn charcoal inside a home or recreational vehicle.
* Never leave your car or mower running in a closed garage.
* Make sure your furnace has adequate intake of outside air.
* Choose vented appliances whenever possible.
* Use kerosene space heaters and unvented gas heaters only in well-ventilated rooms.
* Install a carbon monoxide detector with an audible alarm in your home and garage.
Source: American Lung Association |
