Episode Three – Tombstone Shadows Podcast

The Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph, Michigan.

A Short History of the Cemetery:
The Artesia Cemetery covers fourteen acres and is in the city of Cerritos, California. The first burial was in 1882.

Clothing and other items were little by little found in the water.
Original memorial for bodies found in the ground
Riverview cemetery sign.
Memorial recently put into place in honor of the many who lost their lives in the crash.

John Collins Gillespie:
Born December 15, 1939 – Died: January 25, 1994
A one time very popular local sheriff in Berrien County, Michigan, John Gillespie lived out the latter part of his life with legal battles and ailing health.

Another article showing the popular sheriff in a new article.
The popular sheriff shown investigating a rooftop break in.
This is another news article showing the popular sheriff. He was investigating the death of a boy who had played with matches and gasoline on or around Christmas.
Gillespie news article for a fund raiser in his honor. At the height of his popularity.
This is where Gillespie's home by the lake was located. Long after he died, the house was torn down, and a new home was built there.
Gillespie's last address.
Gillespie's tombstone.

Duane Allen Christianson:
Born: January 10, 1955 – Died: May 20, 1975
Duane’s father, Robert Christianson (with four young children at the time) went alone on a snowy November hunting trip in Minnesota. He was never seen again. All that was found of him were his canoe and vest. This left his wife to raise their four young children. Duane was one of those children, and he lost his life at the age of 20. His sister died later, when she was only 18.

Donald Christianson's grave (Duane's real father). Died while on a hunting trip at the age of 31.
The home where the Christianson family lived with their mother and step-father /uncle.
This is the home where Duane overdosed, and later, where his brother moved.
Duane's grave. He died of an overdose in 1975, at the age of 20.
News photos of Roxanne and her mangled car.
This was noted as the tree that Roxanne crashed into, losing her life.
Roxanne's grave. She died in a Saturday night car crash two years after her brother died.

George Elliot Schultz:
Born: October 23, 1942 – January 21, 1960
George was driving two of his high school buddies back to school to take final exams. They were about 1/4 mile from the school on a frigid late morning in January, when George made a bad decision while approaching the railroad crossing that sat just before their school.

This is the gas station where George dropped off one of his passengers, just before the horrific crash.
This is the railroad crossing today. I don't believe there were gates back in 1960. The high school is up a couple of blocks.
George's 1954 Olds after it was hit by the train. Identifying the dead took over two hours.
A news article and photo which showed the bodies still in the snow.
George Schultz and his two high school friends who all perished in the 1954 Olds vs. train wreck, as seen in the newspaper.
George Schultz's grave marker.