Earl Thelander
On the evening of August 27, 2007, or early morning Aug. 28, thieves broke into a vacant rural rental property located at 20877 Gum Ave. in Onawa, IA, where they cut and stole copper water and propane lines and let the home fill with propane gas. Later that morning after local law enforcement officials left, the home exploded when owner Earl Thelander returned to install a new water pump. Earl died four days later on Sept. 1 in an Omaha hospital after suffering second- and third-degree burns over 80% of his body.
The home -- located approximately 2 miles north of Onawa -- formerly belonged to Raymond and Dorothy Archer, Earl's wife's parents. Earl and his wife Hope purchased the property after Raymond's death and had been readying the home for a new tenant.
Earl and Hope had been at the home the evening of August 27, at which time Earl mowed the lawn. The following morning at approx. 8:30 a.m. -- when Earl discovered the break-in -- he turned off the propane at the tank, called his wife and asked her to notify local authorities. Hope called the Monona County Sheriff's Department, and then -- along with a daughter, a sister and brother-in-law -- drove the two miles to the farm.
Between approx. 10-10:15 a.m., Sheriff Jeff Pratt and Officer Joe Farrens arrived to take a statement. At that time, Sheriff Pratt, Officer Farrens, Earl and Hope Thelander, Dave Anderson and Kysa Ewing went through the house opening windows. (They later were told the explosion hadn't occurred then because oxygen levels were too low.)
Crime scene evidence of tire tracks in the freshly mown lawn suggests the perpetrator drove a small lightweight pick-up. Subsequent research indicates two persons were likely present and involved with the copper theft and cut propane lines.
Having left all windows and doors open to ventilate the home, the Thelanders and their family members returned to the Thelander home in Onawa.
At approx. 11:30 a.m. -- insisting it wouldn't take long and he wouldn't be too late for lunch -- Earl went back to the farm to check on things and see about hooking up the new water pump and tank in the home's basement. Law enforcement officials were gone, and, smelling no propane gas, Earl felt it was safe to work. In the basement, however, Earl discovered water on the floor that had leaked from the water heater's cut and stolen water lines. He plugged in a squirrel cage blower to expedite the drying of the water, and the home suddenly exploded, throwing him across the room and into a basement corner.
Back in town, Hope's nephew, Norman Johnson, had just arrived at Hope and Earl's home, hoping to surprise them with a hot pork tenderloin lunch he'd brought for the three of them to enjoy together. Hope, who'd been scheduled to undergo surgery for a breast biopsy the next morning, stood bent over the kitchen sink, washing her hair. She'd just grabbed a towel to wrap around her head when Earl -- who'd survived the explosion and stormed his way through a ball of fire to drive himself home to the woman he loved -- walked through the door, still in shock, his clothes burned and hanging in shreds, and said to her as she looked up, "It just blew."
Hope and Norman drove Earl to the Burgess Memorial Hospital in Onawa and then immediately contacted Earl and Hope's 11 children. After they arrived, had time to speak with him, and after Dr. John Garred, Jr. had Earl stabilized, Earl was taken by Life Flight to the Clarkson Burn Center at the University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha.
Earl died four days later, surrounded by his 11 children, numerous grandchildren, and his wife Hope, who held her face close to his as he opened his eyes to gaze at her one last time just before passing away.
No arrests have yet been made in the case. The family has offered a $5,000 Reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Earl's death. All information is confidential and the reward may be claimed anonymously. Please call 1-800-859-1414 for more information.
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